IMPORTANT THOUGHT
RAE’S READS
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It was not hard choosing this year. This book is a masterpiece, a life’s accomplishment. 
By far the best book I read in 2021 I have put off writing this review of my favorite book of 2021, not because it was so hard to choose (This novel is a hands-down winner for me.), but because I feel I can’t give this amazing book its due. It is hard to describe, but I’ll do my best.
Doerr’s third novel, Cloud Cuckoo Land, is the answer to critics who asked, “What in the world will you follow All the Light We Cannot See” with? Doerr has created many characters and many plots in this big, challenging novel and has connected them all masterfully in the end. Cloud has been described as “joyous,” “uplifting,” and “a triumph of imagination and compassion.” “Original” is definitely a word I would use to describe this novel. Like some of Shakespeare’s plays within a play, the novel is a book within a book. It deals with five protagonists, five plots, and five settings, all reading a fictional novel written by a real author of the ancient world, Diogenes. Reading Cloud is a challenge because it skips between Constantinople during the 15th century, a small town in present day Idaho, and a intergalaxtic space ship decades into the future when the earth is ruined. The characters: Anne, Omeir, Zeno, Seymore, and Konstance are not only formed well and develop into real personalities during their time on the novel’s pages, but ones you care about and will remember long after finishing Doerr’s book.
As I approached the ending, turning pages rapidly, hurtling towards the end–the ending of the novel was magnificent drawing together the different characters and different settings in a speedy way. It was enough of a “ride” to make the reader hold his/her breath. The conclusion did not seem rushed , but a methodical, logical, natural convergence similar to the ending of All the Light We Could Not See. Overall, one is left with the sense of the power and possibilities of reading and books. This book will surely become a modern classic that will “stand the test of time.”
It is a “full” book; full of troubles and blessings; full of sorrows and griefs, full of happiness and hope. Doerr’s novel has been declared a finalist for the 2021 National Book Award and several other honors. It definitely has won a place in my heart and the title of “Best Book I read in 2021.”
This novel is a definite challenge to read, but one that is definitely worth the effort. 
Thanks, Evin. -
THANKS FOR THE LOAN OF THE MEME, CARLA. Someone put a paperback copy of this lovely book in my Little Free Library this week.
Neighbors not only take books out of the LFL in my yard, they often share books with others by putting books in. 
A donation to my LFL Paul Fleishman has delivered a big message by writing this small book. As in other books he’s written, his characters are presented by character sketches as the book progresses. “Seedfolk” is a reference to one’s ancestors, especially their first family members who came to the United States.
Community gardens are evident everywhere. Even in a town as small as Alvin, the city sponsors one, the local community college has one, a non-profit called Farm Gals has one, and several neighborhoods work their own community gardens. The story of how one vacant lot, filled with trash and garbage came to be the provider of nourishing food, and in the process friendships, is presented in this little book. It is set in Cleveland, and the gardeners are immigrants from as varied as places as the population of the neighborhood. “Thirteen different voices–old, young, Haitian, Hispanic, tough, haunted, and hopeful–tell one amazing story about a garden that transforms a neighborhood. Never preachy, Fleischman gets his point across: connectedness is the bottom line in getting along together in peace. The author’s note at the end is also worth reading. He tells how he came to write the book, about his own “seed folk,” and how he even grew a garden to experience the feeling of beginning with a seed, tending the plant it becomes, and harvesting the bounty from one’s efforts.
I would recommend this for anyone who can read it, possibly ages 10 and up.
Thanks Evin for the new sign-off; what a talented young lady! -
I am limiting myself to very few reading challenges because I have two new “challenges” on my time for 2022. TWENTY TWO IN ‘TWENTY TWO
Adapting an idea from Rubin’s Happier podcast, these are a few things I want to accomplish 22 of in ’22. 22 Novels
22 Non-fiction books
22 Books from my TBR shelves
22 Minutes of reading time (minimum) daily
This may sound like a lot of books, but some will overlap within this challenge and with other challenges. I believe it’s doable.
MOUNT TBR 2022 CHALLENGE
“January 2022 kicks off the eleventh year for the Mount TBR Reading Challenge…” I will read from my own TBR shelves from books owned prior to Jan. 1st 2022. Since I have already planned to read 22 books from said shelves, I will add two books for a total of 24, and attain Level 2, or Mount Blanc Level of the challenge.
This will be fun and hopefully overlapping challenge, hosted by My Reader’s Block blog. These two sets of challenges will be enough to begin the year, and maybe I can come up with a challenge to join that will be exclusively during the summer months.
ALL BOOKS MUST BE READ BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2022 AND DECEMBER 31, 2022, AND MUST BE NEW* TO ME. If you have recommendations for any of these challenges, please leave a reply in the comments box below. (* I am considering a book a new one if I haven’t read more than 50 pages of it because there are many books on my TBR shelves that I looked over, started, then placed on the TBR shelf. I will probably have to skim those 50 pages again.)
JOIN ME AND READ ALONG IN 2022. WATCH WHAT WE CAN DO IN 2022!!
Bring on 2022!
(Happy New Year 2020. Lettering Composition With Stars And Sparkles. Holiday Vector Illustration.) -
THANKS DEB FOR LETTING ME BORROW YOUR DESIGN. CELEBRATION OF COLOR CHALLENGE: This is a challenge I set up for myself, which included colors in the covers of books: red, blue, yellow, white, black, green, orange, pink, purple, brown, plus a book with the word “color” in the title and one by an author of color. This made an even dozen books. I began back in August of 2020 and finished in January of 2021.
I joined THE CLASSICS CLUB in April of 2021 and challenged myself to read five classics by the end of the year. I read: The Secret Garden, The Wide Sargasso Sea, The Secret History, Don Quixote, and Ethan Frome. The last book was also a Page Tuners Book Club selection.
During the summer of 2021, I challenged myself to read four books set in or about New York. I called it the NYC SUMMER CHALLENGE. I read: The Social Graces by Renee Rosen, Rules of Civility by Amor Towles, My Epic Spring Break (Up) by Kristin Rockaway, and The Overdue Life of Amy Tyler by Kelly Harms. I enjoyed them all reviewed or used them all on PWR. To find out more about these books, just type in the title in the search box on the home page.
I am currently finishing the last book of my INSPIRATIONAL BOOKS CHALLENGE where I challenged myself to read seven inspirational books by the end of the year. I finished: Searching for God or Something by Donald Miller, Christmas is Always by Dale Evans Rogers, My Favorite Christmas Story by Roy Rogers, Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller (I really like his books.), Keep Moving by Maggie Smith, and Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist. I will finish the seventh book, A Child in Winter by Thomas Hoffman, a book about Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany (which falls on January 6th) on the sixth day of the New Year.
This is the only book I did not complete. In 2021 I began “Project L’Engle,” an in-depth study of the life and works of one of my favorite authors and “writing mentors.” I have learned a great deal about writing and life in general from my attempts to read everything Madeline L’Engle wrote and was written about her. I had no idea what I was setting myself up for, and naturally, did not complete this study/challenge. I will drop the challenge to read everything, but I will continue my study of her both to enjoy her books and to grow as a human being.
A lovely book about L’Engle’s spiritual influence on family, friends, and readers which I read in 2021. My reading challenges spurred me on to read more and, I think, to enjoy reading more too. As the old song goes, “It was a very good year.”
ON TO 2022…
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Today’s devotional from…
This devotional has helped me celebrate Advent and Christmas. “This Christmas we recognize that we are children who share our infancy with the Divine Infant. Christmas teaches us that God is at home with us. Not visiting, not passing-through–God is at home. Shoes come off, pretenses are left behind, beds are unmade, our hair is out of place, and dirty dishes are in the sink–nevertheless God is at home… Smelly socks and dirty diapers are part of our family history as much as sacraments and cathedrals. Recognize that God is pleased to share every part of you.”
As I begin to plan for a new year, Lord, guide my plans with your wisdom and discernment; may they be within your will, not mine.
Evin, I’m saving the new sign offs for the New Year. Thanks for these. -
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2022…
Let’s continue to look ahead, not behind. Looking ahead to 2022, I see the New Year as a chance to reset. No, not a do-over; I am so DONE with 2020 and 2021; I need a redo, a reset. I plan to enter the waters of 2022 with a cautious, gentle step, not to jump in feet first. I have no ambition to make a splash, just to move forward, stepping around obstacles that might be ahead in my path. This coming year, I hope to accept and embrace whatever changes might be necessary to navigate my life and to grow, as I continue my journey. I will NOT make resolutions, but will set goals. That said, look for challenges in my reading life for ’22 soon!
sign in by Evin -
BLOGMAS 2021, Day 28
CHRISTMAS GREETING ARE DONE; MOST OF THE PRESENTS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED; THOSE WHO SENT US CHRISTMAS CARDS TO WHOM WE DIDN’T, NEW YEAR’S LETTERS ARE DUE. This Christmas has meant a lot to me in that it was the most inspiring Christmas ever. Following the days of Advent for the first time by reading this devotional book each day added a great deal of meaning to the season.
A Child in Winter is not just a book one reads, but a book one experiences. It is almost sad to put such a lovely Christmas behind me, but as I pack a few ornaments from day to day, intending to have all traces of Christmas gone by January 1st, I have enjoyed thinking where each ornament/decoration came from and remembered many happy Christmases. Now it’s time to look ahead to 2022, the New Year, hopefully a happier, healthier one than last year.
We will follow the Southern tradition of serving black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day, but instead of a pork loin with a cranberry glaze like last year, we’ll have pulled pork sandwiches from Flyin’ D’s BBQ down the street, accompanied by potato chips and the blackeyes on the side. Dinner for two, not the lovely company we had Christmas Day. Quieter, more restful, more meditative as we look to the future, quite unsure as to what it will bring, thanks to the Omicron variant.
Thanks for the new sign-offs, Evin. I am saving them for the new year. -
BLOGMAS 2021, Day 27
After watching the news about Omicron today, I need to remember, there IS hope.
powerfulwomenreaders 