Welcome to Quick Lit where I share books that I chose for my own reading enjoyment in a mini-review format. These are not books I received for review, but books that I’ve been wanting to read or that have caught my attention. Most of them have been talked about ad nauseam or have been on my to-read list for a long time so they don’t really need a full review. But, I’d still like to give them some space here on the blog, so instead, I’m offering mini-reviews of the books that won’t get full-page space here.
I’ll be linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy and her monthly Quick Lit link-up. Be sure to head over to see others share their Quick Lit posts. This post contains affiliate links. Click here to read more about that.
I’ve been subbing nearly every day in the last month and if I’m not subbing it’s because I had a prior commitment. Our weekends have been full of activities as well which is great but not so great for my reading life. I seem to have very little time to devote to reading. Audiobooks, as usual, keep me sane!
I recently reviewed several books including RIGHT NOW MATTERS, THE SIX, THE COMFORT OF CROWS, and MRS. PORTER CALLING. I’m currently reading THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB for book club and JUST ONCE for review. I’m waiting for a Libby audiobook hold to come in so until then, I’m also catching up on my favorite podcasts. I have several shows that I trying to watch right now, but I haven’t had a lot of time. The only one that gets my time every week right now is Survivor!
I’m really looking forward to Thanksgiving week for some time with our kids as well as some unstructured time that will hopefully include reading, football watching, and maybe some family game nights.
Here is What I Read in the Last Month
THE HIDING PLACE
By: Corrie Ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill
Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
Published: November 1971
Publisher: Chosen Books
Historical Non-Fiction
Format: Audiobook through Libby
I finally read this amazing story after talking books with my cousin this summer. She said this was her favorite book and was surprised I hadn’t read it, knowing it would be something I would enjoy reading. So, I promptly added it to my Libby holds list and am thrilled to say my cousin was right. I was so moved by Corrie Ten Boom’s story and her unwavering faith even after being arrested, losing her family, and witnessing so much suffering.
“Dear Jesus…how foolish of me to have called for human help when You are here.”
I finished the book just in time to talk about it with my cousin at our family Christmas last weekend.
TO CATCH A STORM
By: Mindy Mejia
Narrated by: Alex Pineda, Brian Hutchison, Libby McKnight
Published: August 1, 2023
Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
Mystery/Thriller
Format: Audiobook through Libby
I’m not typically a mystery reader, but sometimes it is a nice changeup in my usual reading routine. I chose this one specifically because the story was set in Iowa City. Mejia is a bestselling author from Minnesota who sets her thrilling mysteries in the Midwest. I listened to the audio and the various narrators kept the story moving quickly and had a nice intensity and emotion when the story needed it.
This is the first in a planned series and I’m curious to see which characters she continues to write about and what new mysteries she creates in this Iowa college town. Eve is a physicist professor at the University of Iowa and her husband has gone missing with only his burned-up car left behind for evidence. When a psychic shows up at her door saying he’s had visions of her husband bound and gagged in a barn, Eve doesn’t know what or who to believe.
“We all make decisions. Every day there’s a choice. Most of us never know which one will be the last, the final thing we decide. Knowing it will be the thing that decides us.”
This is a quick read and has a pretty plausible plot, especially here in rural Iowa. The author works in plenty of shocking twists and nail-biting turn-of-events to keep the reader guessing what is really going on and what happened to Eve’s husband. I would recommend Mejia’s newest thriller and look forward to the rest in the series.
RED SKY OVER HAWAII
By: Sara Ackerman
Narrated by: Jennifer Robideau
Published: June 9, 2020
Publisher: MIRA
Historical Fiction
Format: Audiobook through Libby
This was recommended to me by another cousin. Sara Ackerman has been on my radar but I haven’t read anything by her yet, but will definitely read more of her books. This was a different type of WWII story, set in Hawaii after Pearl Harbor. The author’s note at the end of the book explains how this was based on real events and places.
Lana flies home to see her father before his death. When she arrives too late, she goes to his home as Pearl Harbor is hit. When she takes the German neighbor’s children into her care and her father’s Japanese best friend and son, Lana puts them all at risk. They travel to her father’s hideaway house in the volcanic mountains only to find out the detainment camp is in the mountains as well.
The lush landscape, the island people, and a bit of romance kept me listening to this one. I loved all the characters and each of their personal struggles. I appreciated reading about the other side of the war from the people of Hawaii’s perspective. Found family, loyalty, and determination are the key messages in this story.
THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY
By: Gabrielle Zevin
Published: April 1, 2014
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Fiction
Format: eBook
I’ve had this on my Kindle since 2016 and finally decided it was a good time to read it. AJ Fikry is a cranky bookstore owner who doesn’t appear to have too many friends. I wasn’t expecting this to be such a heartwarming story at first. But, a good curmudgeon story always comes through with a loving heart.
I went into this story pretty much in the dark and I think that is the best way to do it. Just know that AJ has two people come into his life who completely transform him into a new much better person. AJ’s life is full of love, books, and connecting with the people who care about him. Even the island that he lives on is its own character in the book.
“Sometimes books don’t find us until the right time.”
It’s a must-read for those of us that need a feel-good story even though you’ll likely need some tissues at the end.
Tickled we both read THE HIDING PLACE recently!