August Reads

 It's my last month of 2020 summer reading! I know that once school begins, my reading takes a major hit. Boohoo! I read some great ones this month....all over the board in terms of genre! 

My TBR stack is getting big. Is there anything better than closing the page on a great book and having another one ready to roll?! 

1. The Wife Stalker by Liv Constantine: As you know, Liv Constantine's book, The Last Mrs. Parrish was one of my very favorite books of 2018. A sister duo writes under this pseudonym and they are masters at writing twisty thrillers. This book was great! It's about a woman who gets blind-sided when her husband leaves her for a younger woman who appears to want to become her and take over her life. NOTHING is as it seems and the end had me gasping! This is Lifetime movie-ish and I am here for that! 

2. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones: This is a must read book!! This book follows a young African American couple just beginning to launch into successful careers when tragedy strikes: the young man is accused of a brutal rape that he did not commit. What follows are a series of letters between the couple as they navigate this horrific reality and their new marriage is tested. Later, the husband is released but the world he left behind before prison is no longer what it once was. This is a beautiful, tragic, deep book that explores marriage, race, class, love, friendship, poverty, and policing. I devoured this book in just a few days. It is excellent. 

3. Open Book by Jessica Simpson: I have been on the library wait list for this since February! As someone who grew up in the Britney/Christina/Jessica/Mandy/98 degrees/BSB/N SYNC generation, I found this book fascinating. Jessica is SO open, vulnerable, and honest in this book. I had no idea about her struggles with addiction, her tense relationship with her dad, and how her life has been since leaving the teen pop spotlight. I even wrote down one of her quotes that I liked: "Pain is where all the tools are." She writes about how through challenging experiences, Jessica learned how to come out stronger and with better coping and life skills (Can I get an amen?!). Also: I kind of always thought John Mayer might be a tool. Status: Confirmed. (Even if I love his music) This is a great autobiography if you were a 00's teeny bopper lik me.  

4. That's My Son by Rick Johnson: The tagline for this book is, "How Moms Can Influence Boys to Become Men of Character." This book was just ok for me. I loved some of the practical lessons like positive disciplining, using biblical principles to teach lessons etc. This book seems more geared toward single moms as it emphasizes the need to find a positive male role model for your son and the unique perspectives a woman can provide for her developing son. However some of the (I believe to be unintended) sexism was not appreciated. The book seems to imply that moms can live vicariously through their sons. I can't wait to watch my son achieve his dreams....but that doesn't mean I can't achieve mine. There was also a slight "boys will be boys" section that I found problematic. There is no doubt men and women are different and have differing strengths and weaknesses, but newsflash: Men. Can. Control. Themselves. To think otherwise is offensive to both genders. Ahem, steps off soapbox. I was not anticipating this reaction to a sweet Christian book about parenting! 

5. Hungry Heart by Jennifer Weiner: Jennifer Weiner, popular chick lit author, shares her autobiography by diving into writing, feminism, motherhood, weight loss, dysfunctional family relationships, love, and modern life. There were a few sections I really enjoyed, particularly about Weiner's struggles to earn respect for her work in the "women's fiction" category. However, this book dragged on for me. Is it fair to say there wasn't enough "meat" here for a long autobiography? Yes, Weiner has led a very interesting life (her mother came out as a lesbian when Jennifer was an adult, she found love a second time later in life, she writes frankly about miscarriage and motherhood etc.) but this book was just sort of blah to me. I think the fact that there are a handful of essays and articles that Weiner has previously published peppered throughout proves there's not quite enough here for a whole book. 

6. The Night Swim by Megan Goldin: This book was the perfect book to round out my summer! I chose this as my August Book of the Month. This is about a host of a popular true crime podcast (already interested!) who relocates to a small coastal town to research a recent crime. Once there, she is stalked and pressured to solve an older crime. This one has shifting view points and definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. There's graphic descriptions of rape and violence, so be prepared for that. If you like Dateline, you will love this book. I love a small town with dark secrets!

That's a wrap on my August reads!

Savor Your Sparkle,

Leslie 

Here are my 2020 Books so far with stars by my faves---
1. The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg
2. The Wives by Tarryn Fisher
3. *Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak
4. Over the Top by Jonathan VanNess
5. *Teach Like Finland by Timothy D. Walker
6. The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield
7. *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
8. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
9. *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
10. Finding Chika by Mitch Albom
11. The Sundown Motel by Simone St. James
12. *Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
13. The Dead Girls Club by Damien Angelica Walters
14. *Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
15. *True Crime Addict by James Renner
16. The Ingredients of Us by Jennifer Gold
17. You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
18. Rushing Woman's Syndrome by Libby Weaver 

19. Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
20. The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver
21. *On the Bright Side by Melanie Shankle
22. *One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
23. The First Time by Colton Underwood
24. Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston 

25. *Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling

26. *The Paris Hours by Alex George

27. The St. Francis Society for Wayward Pets by Annie England Noblin

28. *The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup

29. Girl Logic by Iliza Schlsinger

30. *Harry Potter and the Half Bloos Prince by JK Rowling

31. *Look Alive Out There by Sloane Crossley

32. *Happy and You Know It by Laura Hankin

33. The Honey Don't List by Christina Lauren

34. Ghoster by Jason Arnopp

35. All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

36. *One to Watch by Kate Stoyman-London

37. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows by JK Rowling

38. One of Us is Next by Karen M. McManus

39. *Stand All The Way Up by Sophie Hudson

40. *The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin

41. Here for It by R. Eric Thomas

42. *A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler

43. The Hideaway by Lauren K. Denton

44. Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman 

45. *The Wife Stalker by Liv Constantine

46. *An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

47. Open Book by Jessica Simpson

48. That's My Son by Rick Johnson

49. Hungry Heart by Jennidfer Weiner

50. *The Night Swim by Megan Goldin 

May Reads

I am so excited to share my May Reads with you!! I really enjoyed the books I read this month!! Quarantine stinks for a lot of reasons, but having a bit of extra time to read is so so nice!!!

This month featured quite the variety: historical fiction, Hogwarts, horror, humor,and heart. Ready??? Let's get to it!

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling

I'm continuing my 2020 resolution to finish every Harry Potter book and watch all the movies. Before this year, I had never seen or read even 1! This was the first Harry Potter book (this was book 5 out of 7) that I actually read....I listened to the others on audiobook, but since I'm not driving to and from work each day, I knew it would take me ages to listen to it. I don't know if it's because I actually read this one (as opposed to listened) or what, but this one was my favorite of the series so far. I LOVE the fantastic little community supporting Harry and how they all band together to defeat He Who Shall Not Be Named. I really liked how Harry was sort of moody and emotional in this one. His character is more fleshed out in this book than in the other 4. I finished this book wanting MORE. I decided to read 1 Harry Potter per month so I stopped here but this was great. I watched the movie last week too, and really enjoyed it as well. 

2. The Paris Hours by Alex George

This book. Guys. I loved it. This was my April Book of the Month pick. I typically don't go for the historical fiction option with Book of the Month, but this one just called to me. Going to Paris is a dream of mine and I love reading about Paris of the 1920's. (I loved The Paris Wife by Paula McLain). This book is one like Love Actually where there are these various story lines going on and at the end they all converge and you see how they are all connected. This one has elements of war time violence (pretty vivid descriptions of the Armenian Genocide), love, parenthood, trauma and more. It's not light by any means, but it's a fairly short book that really packs a punch. I thought it was beautiful. The description from Amazon perfectly sums it up, "Told over the course of a single day in 1927, Alex George's The Paris Hours takes four ordinary people whose stories, told together, are as extraordinary as the glorious city they inhabit." 

3. The St. Francis Society for Wayward Pets by Annie England Noblin 

I read Annie England Noblin's previous two novels and really enjoyed them both. Her books are classic chick lit that typically involve a single woman who finds both a man and a pet that help her find her way. This book followed that same format and honestly? It was just what I was looking for. This is a sweet story about a woman who inherits her birth mother's home in rural Washington. She befriends the local characters, learns to knit, and, of course, falls in love. This is a cute book if you're looking for something light and easy. 

4. The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup 

If you want to know the book I'll be suggesting all year when someone asks what to read next, here it is! I loved this book so much that I devoured it in 3 days. This is a super twisted (and violent!) book about a serial killer who leaves little chestnut dolls at the crime scenes. Except the little dolls all share a fingerprint on them from a young girl who was kidnapped and presumed murdered years ago. What??? This takes place in the Netherlands and is super duper creepy but so thrilling and suspenseful. I stayed up waaaaay past my bedtime reading this one. And the twist near the end got me good. If you're looking for a crazy psychological murder mystery, pick this one up.....and then message me when you finish we we can discuss!

5. Girl Logic by Iliza Schlesinger: 

I think Iliza is one of the most talented comedians out there. For my birthday weekend in March, AJ and I had plans to stay downtown and had tickets to her show. It was cancelled, obviously, and it's rescheduled for this summer, but I'm not quite sure that'll still happen either. Boooo. Needless to say, I've been wanting to read this book for a while. I was expecting a bit more memoir and less advice with this one, but it still had me laughing out loud at parts (her bit about Disney's Belle being willing to sleep with a feline in a dinner jacket just to get away from Gaston and get in some good solo reading time had me howling). Iliza is just a wise, bad ass lady, and she covers it all in this book: dating, love, friendship, politics, sex, feminism and more. If you like Iliza's brand of comedy and witty perception on modern womanhood, you'll enjoy this book for sure. 

That's a wrap, folks! The library is beginning curbside pick up of book holds and AJ and Hank renewed my Book of the Month subscription for Mother's Day, so I am set to go with new reading material! Happy reading, friends!

Savor Your Sparkle,

Leslie 

March Reads

This was such an amazing month of reading!!!!!! It's a good thing, too, since there have been plenty of at home days this month. I  would recommend every one of these books. Let's get to it!

SERIOUSLY

1. The Dead Girls Club by Damien Angelica Walters: Ok, so I've never read any Stephen King, but I have definitely thought before, "How can a book be considered super scary? I mean, it's just words on a page. What's the big deal?" I was WRONG. This book was so super scary.....but in a fun horror movie sort of way (if that makes any sense at all). This is about a group of friends who love all things creepy...until one of their stories gets way too real. Soon the "Red Lady" is haunting the group of teens and she won't let up, even as they grow up and move on. This very much gave me "Pretty Little Liars" vibes. This was a fun spooky, psychological thriller with a horror twist. It won't go down in history as a classic or amazing by any means, but I really couldn't put this one down! 

 2. Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid: I was on the library waitlist for a few months for this one. It was one of the picks for Reese Witherspoon's books club so I think that's why. Guys, I love love loved this one! This one is like a deeper, more thoughtful version of The Nanny Diaries. This is about a young African American woman who nannies for a privileged white family. The mom really means well she can just be tone deaf at times. Then there's the mom's ex...who is currently dating the nanny. Yeah, that gets awkward. This was really such a fun book (see what I did there?) that really dives deep into class, race, age, romance, and the complicated relationships between employer and employee in a domestic setting. Read this book, it's wonderful.

3. True Crime Addict by James Renner: A few years ago, I was super into the docuseries The Mysterious Disappearace of Maury Murray. I recently discovered the TV show made my the same people, Up and Vanished (it's also a podcast). While watching an episode of that recently, I decided to look up this book that is referred to a lot in the Maura Murray series. This is an excellent true crime book and while Renner certainly doesn't solve the case (although he provides a compelling argument that Maura is alive and well in Canada), he pursues many angles and the book was just as interesting as the series, if not more so. One of my favorite books last year was the true crime book, I'll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara. One of the things that stood out to me about that book was how masterfully McNamara weaves her own story and struggles into the crimes she's researching. James Renner's book is very similar in that way and we get an intimate glimpse at his headspace and emotions as he drives himself to the brink trying to get answers. This was a great one.

 4. The Ingredients of Us by Jennifer Gold: This was a library impulse find because I thought the cover and description on the back were cute. This was a fun, light hearted read that feels very similar to the Beach Street Bakery series or like something by Elin Hilderbrand. The main character Elle runs a bakery (like every chick lit or Hallmark movie ever) and has recently separated from her husband because he was cheating. She explores the world of dating in her late '30's and all its misadventures. This is a sweet read with a happy ending, recipes throughout, and it was just light and fun. It won't go down in history as a favorite, but it was cute.

 5. You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen: This was my February Book of the Month club pick. This is by the same author team as The Wife Between Us and An Anoymous Girl. Those were both great thrillers and this one is verrry similar to those both. If you like a girl power thriller, you will probably enjoy this one. Shay is a young woman yearning for an exciting life. She meets the Moore sisters and they promise her a life of glamour and excitement.....but, of course, at a very steep cost to Shay. Ulterior motives abound and this one features elements of cults (sort of), the power of sisterhood, revenge, and murder. This was a fun one.

 6. Rushing Woman's Syndrome by Dr. Libby Weaver: I think it's so ironic, I ordered this book about a month ago, before all this Covid stuff impacted daily life. I've certainly been forced to quit rushing! I can say, wholeheartedly, that I have Rushing Woman's Syndrome. This book is a great mix of science/nutrition/mental health and dives into the responses our bodies have to this fast-paced, always on world. One thing I didn't love was that Dr. Weaver has her own line of vitamins and did pitch those a few times in the book (eyeroll), but overall the information was solid. Some of the tips involve things like limiting social media use, drinking less caffeine (I know, right?), and the importance of sleep and a healthy movement routine that involves practices like yoga. There were some great tips in here.

Reading has always been a form of self care for me and even more so now. Happy reading, friends!!

Savor Your Sparkle,
Leslie  

Here are my 2020 Books so far with stars by my faves---
1. The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg
2. The Wives by Tarryn Fisher
3. *Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak
4. Over the Top by Jonathan VanNess
5. *Teach Like Finland by Timothy D. Walker
6. The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield
7. *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
8. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
9. *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
10. Finding Chika by Mitch Albom
11. The Sundown Motel by Simone St. James
12. *Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
13. The Dead Girls Club by Damien Angelica Walters
14. *Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
15. *True Crime Addict by James Renner
16. The Ingredients of Us by Jennifer Gold
17. You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
18. Rushing Woman's Syndrome by Libby Weaver 

February Reads

Who else feels like February flew by?? I can't believe we are 2 months into 2020! My TBR pile is HUGE and I think I need a week on a tropical island with a mai tai and a stack of books...who's with me?

Photo by Penguin Publishing

This month I listened to books 2 and 3 in the Harry Potter series and then read 3 more. Let's take a look!

1. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: I enjoyed this book but not as much as the first one where I got to learn all about the world of Hogwarts. I really enjoy the characters and watched the movie of this book just this past week. The narrator, Jim Dale, is outstanding! He makes my car rides super entertaining.

2. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Of all of the Harry Potters I've listened to so far, this one is my favorite. I loved the storyline with Sirius Black and am so looking forward to how the series will progress and conclude. I am a bit curious about how long it will take me to listen to the rest of the series since apparently book 4 is on SEVENTEEN discs. Road trip, anyone?!

3. Finding Chika by Mitch Albom: This is the first book I've ever read that made me cry multiple times. This one is a TOUGH read. You find out on the first page the tragic ending and my heart broke over and over as I read. This is the true story of Mitch Albom and his wife who end up adopting a daughter, Chika, from Haiti (where they run an orphanage) and bring her to America to receive medical treatment. This book is about parenting, privilege, the medical system, and more. Maybe it's because I teach students Chika's age, or mostly probably because I have had to bury a child, this book tore me apart. It's beautiful, really, but it was really emotional for me. That said, I have read every Mitch Albom book (The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto is one of my all time favorite books)  and have loved them all. It was super refreshing to learn more about him and his passions. Verdict? Beautiful and messy (and honestly, an important read. It raises essential questions about the value of every life)  and if you want your heartstrings pulled, pick it up. But buy the Costco-sized Kleenix pack if you do.

4. The Sundown Motel by Simone St. James: This was my January Book of the Month Club pick.This is a shifting point of view ghost story/thriller. The Sundown Motel is a shady place where many women went missing in the '70's. Carly is a modern day young woman who returns to the motel to investigate once she learns her aunt was one of those missing women. This book was very suspenseful. I especially loved the way it ended and ya'll know I love a good twist. It was good but not AMAZING....I feel like it felt a bit slow at times.

5. Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan: This was one of the longer books I've read recently (about 500 pages) and it was by no means a quick read. However, I really enjoyed this book and love it even more knowing it's based on a true story. This book follows the story of Pino Lella, a young Italian man who joins the Nazis as a spy for the Italian resistance. I had no idea the impact the Nazis had on Italy and this book was super fascinating. Some parts were hard to read due to the violent nature and graphic descriptions. However, this is also a love story so it's not all war and violence. One of my favorite parts of this book was the author's note at the end about where all of the characters ended up. If you're looking for a historical saga that really takes you to a different (and tough) time and place, pick up this incredible true story of courage and bravery.

What are your fave reads this year so far?
Savor Your Sparkle,
Leslie

Here are my 2020 Books so far with stars by my faves---
1. The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg
2. The Wives by Tarryn Fisher
3. *Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak
4. Over the Top by Jonathan VanNess
5. *Teach Like Finland by Timothy D. Walker
6. The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield
7. *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
8. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
9. *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
10. Finding Chika by Mitch Albom
11. The Sundown Motel by Simone St. James
12. *Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan

January Reads

It's the first reads post of 2020!! I read/listened to 8 books this month (well, and also at the end of December after I wrote my December Reads post). I had quite the variety this month and in a nutshell---a Hallmark movie plot, a polygamist thriller (who would have though those words would be paired together?!), a delightful holiday novel, an outrageous autobiography, a practical and excellent teaching resource, a novel that went in an unexpected and unwelcome direction, and finally, the start of one of the most popular series in the world.....a few decades late. Ha! SHEESH!

Here we go!

1 The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg:

I really enjoyed this book. The book description and even the title don't really sum up this book. It appeared at first glance to be sort of a domestic thriller "Desperate Housewives" type situation. But this one was a bit more "The Notebook" than I thought. This is about an older divorcee who ends up falling for a guy with a tough past. I won't give away any more than that!  I read this book quickly and wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen. This one is a sweet, small town, happy ending love story. More Hallmark than Lifetime. I was a fan 

 2. The Wives by Tarryn Fisher

This was a Book of the Month club pick. This was a nice solid thriller with a twist ending (love those!). This is about a modern day polygamist family trying to live in the real world (Sister Wives, anyone?). It's told from one point of view, the first wife's, and while you do find yourself rooting for her, you wonder why she's put herself in the position she has. The ending genuinely surprised me! This one is a pretty gritty and definitely R-rated. 

 3. Seven Days Of Us by Francesca Hornak:

I read this book over Christmas break and it was really just delightful. This is about an off-beat British family who is stuck together for a week under quarantine due to the eldest daughter's return from serving a medical mission in an area with an infectious disease. There's quirkiness, heart-felt moments, secrets revealed, and relationships repaired. It's sentimental and sweet and it was such a fun holiday read. 

 4. Over the Top by Jonathan Van Ness:

I was on the library wait list for this when on of my besties sent me this signed copy for Christmas!! I adore JVN and listen to his podcast, Getting Curious, every week. This book feels like you're getting mimosas with the Queen himself and he is spilling all the tea, honey! This book is Jonathan's auto-biography and while it of course features all kind of fun deets about Queer Eye, he also goes in depth about his childhood and some pretty rough stuff he endured (think prostitution, drug use). I enjoyed this one more than Tan's book, Naturally Tan. I think it's an important book due to its brutal honesty. 

5. Teach Like Finland by Timothy D. Walker

 I LOVED this book! We've all heard about Finland and it's fantastic education system and results. My natural reaction to that has always been, yeah well they have a population smaller than many states and a much more uniform culture and identity than we do in America. We could never replicate that here. And the author recognizes this fact too. BUT, what we can do is take techniques and ideas that are successful there and try them in our own classrooms. Some things of particular note: the emphasis on classroom community, hands on learning experiences, letting kids be kids, and my most favorite---reducing teacher workload and burn out by focusing on what is most important and making the students work just as hard (if not harder!) than you the teacher. Preach, Finland!

6. The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield:

I bought this book while on Christmas break because I liked the cover art, I love a good Southern novel, and the premise (a young preacher returns to his hometown with his young family and hijinks ensue) sounded entertaining. It took me a while to get into at the beginning, then I really enjoyed it, and I HATED the ending. I felt super misled by this book because this novel is portrayed sort of light hearted and then it gets dark. Fast. Out of nowhere. This novel struggles with multiple personality disorder---funny and warm on one hand.....abuse, neglect, rape and murder on the other. I'm not opposed to books that deal with tough topics at all, I just don't appreciate when they're dressed up to be something different. Hard pass.

 7. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling:

So my 2020 goal was to "read" (listen) to all 7 Harry Potter books. If you can believe it, I've made it 32 years without reading a single one before now. I've never been particularly interested in Potter mania and the trend sort of passed me by. I'm not one for fantasy stories really (I've never read Lord of the Rings either) so I've always been meh about it. But one of my teammates mentioned the excellent narrator to the audio books and I said, "let's do it." Overall, I enjoyed it. It was amazing to me all the Potter-isms I knew from pop culture without having ever read the books: Bernie Botts Beans, Hedwig and the other owls, Platform 3/4, Hogwarts and the "houses," "He Who Shall Not Be Named," the lightning scar, Quidditch...It's interesting to put some context to things I've heard about. I am fascinated by JK Rowling and how she created this in-depth, well thought out whole other world! Harry is such a likable character and I am looking forward to listening more and see where it all goes.

How's that for some literary variety to kick off the new year?!

Happy reading, friends!
Savor Your Sparkle,
Leslie

December Reads

It's the final reading month of 2019! I can't believe it! Look for an end of the year book post coming soon. But first....December books! I read 5 books this month. There's something so awesome about curling up under a blanket with a warm mug and a good book. One of my favorite things in life!! Here we go....

1. Christmas Bliss by Mary Kay Andrews: This was a super fun, festive quick read. I didn't realize until I got a few chapters into this book that it's a sequel to a book I read last Christmas, Blue Christmas. This one is about a young woman in the South and navigating the holiday season with her kooky friends and family. It was good, but pretty forgettable. It's a basically a Hallmark movie in book form. It wasn't amazing, but it was the perfect festive book "junk food."

2. Hamilton by Ron Chernow: My goal was to finish this book in time to include it in my December post and I did it! I wrote a whole post about this book. Check it out HERE.

3. Miracles and Other Reasonable Things by Sarah Bessey: I had heard wonderful things about this book and it did not disappoint. In fact, this is one of those books that I most definitely would like to read again. It's a little book but there's a LOT here. I wrote down 2 of my favorite quotes from this book:
"We have to be committed to unlearning the unhelpful, broken, unredemptive, false, or incomplete God if we want to have space to relearn the goodness, the wholeness, the joy of a loving God." 

" Jesus' tears meant something to me in those places. I had lived in a narrative that didn't recognize God in the grief, and so when sadness, or loneliness or suffering came to stay, I felt that God must have moved out of my life in order to make room for the suffering. Suffering can be a sacrament not because its refining on its own-suffering can also make us bitter and twisted and angry-but because it can become the sort of darkness that makes the light much more beautiful." 

I mean wow, right? This book follows Sarah on her journey from evangelical Christianity's "name it and claim it" prayer movement (Joel Osteen, anyone) to visiting the Pope, nearly dying in a horrific car accident, to rediscovering the God of love. This book is part travel memoir, part theology and, the forward to this book is written by one of my absolute faves, Shauna Niequist. That gives you an indicator of the type of book it is: beautiful writing with flourishes, and deep theology embedded into the stories of life. If you're looking for a faith-based book to wrestle with in the new year, try this one.

4. Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella: I have read and loved every book in the Shopaholic series and they always delight and entertain me. This one was so fun and I love reconnecting with Becky Brandon (Bloomwood) and her pals. This one features Becky getting herself into typical mischief (such as getting herself locked in a pet store, accidentally ordering a ridiculous amount of smoked salmon, getting herself admitted to an all-male billiards club to win a raffle). It's fun, it's cute, it's a beloved series. I liked it!

5. Lean Habits for Lifelong Weight Loss by Georgie Fear: It took me nearly 33 years to know this truth deeply: Diets don't work and ingrained HABITS are the catalyst for lasting change. This theme is a huge part of the intuitive eating movement, and the podcast and program, Balance 365 Life, and this theme was also a major part of Secrets from the Food Lab and Mindless Eating, other nutrition books I have read. This book is an excellent little guide presenting research and data alongside easy to read lifestyle habits that are important for every eater to know and practice (not just those pursuing fat loss). Some of the key points revolve around eating frequency and time, the crucial components of rest and hydration, and the need for understanding hunger and satiety cues. I am so glad I purchased this book so I can continually refer to it. It's an excellent resource with a solid scientific backing.

Well, that's a wrap on my December reads! I'm posting this a little sooner than the end of the month before the holiday craziness begins. This was, like always, another month for the books.

Savor Your Sparkle,
Leslie

PS) Leave a comment with your favorite book you've read recently. I'm growing my 2020 TBR pile!

Favorite Things 2019

It's time for my annual "Leslie's Favorite Things" post!

I have done this post for a few years and you can check out the 2016 version HERE and the 2017 version HERE. I didn't do an official "favorite things" post last year, but HERE is an end of year what I'm loving lately post from 2018. I love doing this post and while I wish I could give you all my favorite things a la Oprah, alas, you can just read about them here! I always give this disclaimer that yes, OBVI, I am thankful for health, faith, family, friends, love, teaching and all of those things, but this post is about material objects I've really enjoyed this year. Without further ado, My Favorite Things 2019!

1. Danskin Joggers--Some of my favorite lounge wear comes from Costco. Maybe it's the giant fans or imagining myself with the peppermint chocolate pretzel thins on my couch, but something about bulk buying makes me want cozy clothes (I have so many conspiracy theories about Costco and how they get us to spend more, ha!). These sweats are my absolute fave. Here's why: stretch and comfort without being super baggy, a tapered ankle, they can work as pajamas, gym bottoms, or out and about. I've done all 3. And they're $10! I love these things!

2. Egg Bites---So it's no secret I love Starbucks egg bites. They are little protein packed bites of yum. But they are a bit pricey so this year I decided to try making them on my own. These are so delish. I basically mix together some variation of toppings (spinach, mushroom, tomato, etc) with about 9 eggs, add some seasoning, a sprinkle of cheese pour into a well oiled muffin tin and voila, a dozen egg bites await about 12 minutes and 350 degrees later. I have my eye out for some silicone muffin molds because I think they'll pop out easier that way.

Image from the Baker Mama

3. Book of the Month Club--AJ bought me this as a birthday gift years ago and I cannot love it enough. Each month you get an email with the run down of 5 brand new books (I adore the quick categorizing and basic gist of each read) then you pick one you like and about a week later the hard back you selected shows up on your doorstep! It's a favorite thing because I love reading, but also because the books are often brand new, early releases. Also, if there's more than one read out of the 5 I'm into? I add the selections I didn't choose to my library waitlist. Easy peasy. Click HERE to join yourself. You will not regret it.

4. Old fashioned toys--I need to preface this one by saying that we have all sorts of toys that make all manner of noises and need batteries. We've got light up things, motorized things, etc. I'm NO hippie, here, folks. But I do love a good old fashioned toy. Hank loves his Melissa and Doug coffee maker, pots and pans, wooden puzzles, and other battery-free fun. For Christmas, I picked him up a roll up car mat for when we're out at restaurants and things. Hank still begs for my phone to watch "Baby Shark" like every other kid in America, but I will always advocate for some good old fashioned play things too.

5. Rustic Bread--I know it's millenial and extra, but I LOVE avocado toast (with salt and pepper and a poached egg? Heavenly!) and I recently decided to up my carb game and buy a nice crusty loaf instead of regular square bread. Game. Changer. I may have to toast it twice since a slice won't fit in my toaster all at once, but if you're going to have avo toast, do it right and go Team Crusty.

6. Revlon Heat Styling Brush---So I've been wanting one of these for a while now and the week before Thanksgiving it went on sale for $30 so I scooped it up. Guys, this is a game changer. I wanted to try and use less heat on my hair and with this bad boy, I now use THREE heat styling tools, but I can tell it is already making my hair feel healthier and have better volume. Here's how: I blow dry my hair for about 5 ish minutes, then I use this heat styling brush to dry it the rest of the way. When I'm done with that, my hair is basically straight already and I just use a few strokes with the Chi flat iron to de-frizz and smooth. Overall, even with an additional tool, it's less heat applied to my hair and I finally feel like I can dry and style my hair at the same time. It's a major time saver.

7. Tibeten Singing Bowl--Last year I read the book, "Happy Teachers Change the World" by Thich Nhat Hanh all about how teachers can bring mindfulness into the classroom (for our benefit as well as for the students). I immediately created a Donors Choose project with all sorts of mindfulness resources, including books and this Tibeten singing bowl. I freaking love this thing in the classroom. I originally purchased it to use as a way to center my students as we transition from one task to another (and I do use it for that, especially when they switch centers groups), but it's just an amazing 15 second sound, depending on how hard you strike it, that trains the mind to come back to the present moment and listen until all the sound in the bowl dissipates. It's crazy relaxing and I'm hoping my students continue to have a Pavlovian response to the sound--stop, breathe, listen.

8. Taylor Swift's "Lover": Taylor was basically the soundtrack to my 20's and I absolutely loved her album released this fall. She said on the AMA's one of her goals is to have her music evolve year after year and it really has. "Lover" is  fun, gym jam worthy, and features perfect tunes for driving. I've ridden some high highs (Red) and some low lows (Reputation) with Tay over the years but I'm a forever fan and this album is perfection. Afterglow is one of my favorite songs but "You Need to Calm Down" is an anthem if I've ever heard one.

9. Kirkland's: So we got one of these stores by us this past year and I LOVE it. It's basically if Pier One, Hobby Lobby, and Target decor all got together and had a party. There's a sweet clearance section, plenty of seasonal cuteness and of course that farmhouse style I adore. This store is so fun.

That's a wrap on my Favorite Things of 2019!
It's so fun to celebrate and be thankful for things we love.

Savor Your Sparkle,
Leslie

Hamilton

Guys, I did it. I finished reading Ron Chernow's Hamilton. I started this book last spring and read bits and pieces of it every once in a while between other books and finally finished it this week. It's 818 pages, but that includes notes and reference pages. This is the book that the musical is based on. Once I saw the show, I just knew I had to read this book cover to cover myself. I have a lot of thoughts but basically: it was torturous to read, each page took forever, it was so crazy long and chocked full of so much detail, sometimes reading it felt like homework but......I loved it and maybe want to even read it again. I know, I know. In between listening to the soundtrack and dreaming of a trip to go see the show again, I have some thoughts on this epic read. I will present them (much to wordy Hamilton's likely chagrin) as a list.

-The study of history matters now more than ever. Throughout this book I kept thinking situations, conversations, actions within the pages could be overlayed with today's political climate and one would hardly know the difference. We aren't getting it right now (but we're trying) and they weren't getting it right then (but they were trying), and the lessons from the past are essential to guide us into a brighter future.

-Lin Manuel-Miranda is a genius. Plain and simple. There are actual lines from the book that appear as lyrics in the songs. It's all woven together masterfully.

-The beginning of the book (which I read way back in the summer, sheesh) is interesting as it follows Hamilton's upbringing and journey to America, but I actually liked the last bit of the book the best. When the "Hamiltons Move Uptown" (suuuch a great song), Hamilton becomes more introspective, religious, calm, and more of a family man than ever before. He settles down, cools off and even though he died while still relatively young, his later years were spent in quiet (well, quiet for Hamilton) reflection.

-While Washington is presented as noble and a true leader, the portrayals of Jefferson and John Adams make them out to be petty, villainous, and undeserving of the accolades history has provided them with.

-I'm not sure Hamilton ever had an affair with his sister in law Angelica (and the book doesn't claim this either), but they had a unique, special closeness that was fascinating to read about.

-Hamilton was one of the few founding fathers who was really an abolitionist. He "tolerated" slavery, but never to the extent of Jefferson and other leaders at the time. He struggled to side with the financial interests of the agrarian South because he knew on whose backs it was built and he felt this was immoral (because it was).

-Immigrants. They get the job done.

-Eliza is the true hero of this tale. Not only does she go on after Hamilton's death to start an orphanage and care for society's neediest, she rode the waves of Hamilton's tumultuous career (and womanizing) with grace and poise. She is, as Hamilton (and Lin-Manuel) say, "The best of wives and the best of women."

-Burr's jealousy of Hamilton is perfectly captured in the song "Wait For It." He could never quite touch Hamilton's finesse and it drove him crazy.

-The notes and references section of this book is HUGE. I would love an insider's look at how it was all put together. It's a stunning biography as well as a comprehensive look at history during this time.

I think the reason why Hamilton's story is so fascinating is because in him we have an example of a self-made American hero. He is not always likable (The Reynolds Pamphlet, anyone?), he is arrogant, long winded, selfish, and single minded. BUT....he did great things for this country and his legacy lives on in so many aspects of our day to day life. He was a poor immigrant and rose to the top by being "non-stop." His success occurs simultaneously with deep depression and personal tragedy, but through it all, Hamilton emerges as the protagonist who is, oddly, relatable and charming. You could say I'm a Hamilton fan girl. I'll pick up some easier to read, lighter books now, but this book will always have a prized place on my bookshelf.

Savor Your Sparkle,
Leslie

November Reads

It's here! My favorite post each month--reads! This month I read 4 books and I really enjoyed them. These were some great, quick, entertaining reads.

1. Ghost by Jason Reynolds: This was an assigned reading for a professional development retreat/seminar I am participating in this year. The topic for November's session was about how to reach all students right where they are. This is a young adult (probably like a 5th or 6th grade level) book. The main character, nicknamed Ghost, lives in a rough part of town and has experienced trauma. His mom is struggling to get by as a single parent. Ghost finds a welcoming home on the track team and with the inspiring coach, he begins to imagine a brighter future for himself. This was a great, inspiring read and I think it'd be great in upper elementary or middle school to have discussions with.

2. You've Been Volunteered by Laurie Gelman: I loved this fun book! This is the sequel to the book Class Mom. This is about a feisty go-getter mom who is the class mom in her youngest son's 3rd grade class. She's funny and fabulous and like the first book, this one has lots of emails peppered throughout that made me LOL. If you like the show American Housewife, this is basically it in book form.

3. Naturally Tan by Tan France: I am on the waitlist for Jonathan Van Ness' autobiography, so I thought I'd go to another one of my Queer Eye faves, Tan! This book is Tan's story from his childhood, his successful career in fashion and how he ended up on Netflix's hit show. Tan has this definite silly, irreverant side to him in this book that we don't necessarily see on the show. This book was a breeze to read and a fun, light look at how Tan overcame adversity. If you are a fan of Queer Eye I'd recommend it. Otherwise, I'd skip it.

4. The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell: This was my November Book of the Month Club pick and I liked it! Here's the thing, it was confusing at first (various timelines and point of view narration), but it ended up being really suspenseful and I couldn't wait to keep reading to find out how it would all resolve. This book is about a wealthy London family who falls under the influence of a con man cult leader. He wreaks havoc on their family with disastrous results. It's pretty creepy and I don't think it's for everyone, but if fit the bill for me for a suspenseful, entertaining read.


And now here are all the books I've read in 2019....with stars by my faves!
1. An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
2. The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
3. The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank
4. *Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
5. Happy Teachers Change The World by Thich Nhat Hanh and Katherine Weare
6. The Day I Went Missing by Jennifer Miller
7. *Glow Kids by Kardaras Nicholas
8. Final Girls by Riley Sager
9. *Becoming by Michelle Obama
10. As Long As We Both Shall Live by Joann Chaney
11. *The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth
12. If You Only Knew by Jamie Ivey
13. *The Home for Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman
14. Adequate Yearly Progress by Roxanne Elden
15. *Regrets Only by Erin Duffy
16. *Girls in the Garden by Lisa Jewell
17. I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella
18. *The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
19. *Give Me Your Hand by Megan Abbott
20. When Did I Get Like This? by Amy Wilson
21. *Good Riddance by Elinor Lipman
22. Maid by Stephanie Land
23. Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson
24. Sh*tty Mom by Laurie Kilmartin, Karen Moline, Alicia Ybarbo, MaryAnn Zoellner
25. Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson
26. Dietland by Sarai Walker
27. The Mother in Law by Sally Hepworth
28. The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
29. *Life Will Be the Death of Me by Chelsea Handler
30. *Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand
31. Those Other Women by Nicola Moriarty
32. *The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
33.  Roar by Cecelia Ahern
34. A Love Letter Life by Jeremy and Audrey Roloff
35. The Summer of Good Intentions by Wendy Frances
36. *Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
37. *Can I Get An Amen? by Sarah Healy
38. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
39. *Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
40. How Do You Tuck In a Superhero? by Rachel Balducci
41. City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert 
42. *No Exit by Taylor Adams
43. *Things You Save In a Fire by Katherine Center
44. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
45. *Again But Better by Christine Riccio
46. *Secrets from the Eating Lab by Traci Mann
47. I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi
48. Well Met by Jen DeLuca
49. What Happens In Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
50. Ghost by Jason Reynolds
51. *You've Been Volunteered by Laurie Gelman
52. Naturally Tan by Tan France
53. The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell 


We are entering December, one of my favorite months! Happy reading!
Savor Your Sparkle,
Leslie