7253 pages in TIME Flies and other Thoughts

0- I didn’t finish
1- Parts were okay
2- Interesting and/or Food for thought, Enjoyed
3- Very Good Read!

BOOKS I READ IN 2022
3- “Raising Trump” by Ivana Trump
3- “A Mother’s Reckoning”, Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy by Sue Klebold
3- “Forever Boy”, A Mother’s Memoir of Autism and Finding Joy by Kate Swenson
3- “When I fell from the Sky”, A True Story of One Women’s Miraculous Survival by Juliane Koepcke
3- “Fly Girl” by Ann Hood

2- “God Bless This Mess”, Learning to Live and Love Through Life’s Best (and Worst) Moments by Hanna Kelsey Brown
2- “Unsinkable”, A Memoir by Debbie Reynolds
2- “The Last Thing He Told Me” by Laura Dave (Fiction)
2- “The Family Upstairs” by Lisa Jewell, (Fiction)
2- “Out of the Corner”, A Memoir By Jennifer Grey
2- “Idol Truth”, A Memoir by Leif Garrett
2- “Love without Borders”, How Bold Faith Opens the Doors to Embracing the Unexpected by Angela, Braniff
2- Dear Santa”, A Novel by Debbie Macomber (Fiction)
2- “Prairie Tale”, A Memoir by Melissa Gilbert
2- “The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle” A Novel by Jennifer Ryan (Historical Fiction)

1- “Wish You Were Here” by Jodi Picoult (Literary Fiction)
1- “Raised in Ruins” A Memoir by Tara Neilson
1- “Bright Lights, Prairie Dust”, Reflections on Life, Loss and Love from Little House’s Ma by Karen Grassle
1- “Salt to the Sea”, A Novel by Ruth Sepetys (Historical Fiction)

0- “What she left behind”, by Ellen Marie wiseman (Historical Fiction)

Unless noted, books are Memoirs, Biographies or Autobiography.
Note… Almost every book had at least one cuss word but not more than 10?
(I would prefer zero).

Thoughts on the top 5 books and the last one
“Raising Trump”
We all have seen the news that the media wants us to see about people. I think Ivanna Trump has been unfairly misjudged. First off, she grew up in the USSR, controlled and poor. And then she met a man who had good business skills and their wealth grew. Spend it if you got it right. I was impressed with how she raised her kids also.
I really enjoyed this book!

“A Mother’s Reckoning”
First off, I think what many people forgot, is that she was/is a grieving mother. She had what she thought was a wonderful son and had a hard time coming to grips that her son was capable of the choices he made and the feelings she learned he had. She had no idea. We all want to believe the best in our kids and even if there were signs it is likely one would miss those signs. In hindsight she could see where some of the missed signs could have had greater meaning. And then there was the hatred directed at her. I get it it, but I also feel for her. (((Hugs to her))).

“Forever Boy”
Cooper is a 12-year-old boy with nonverbal Autism.
His mother shares about their life. Anyone with a child with Autism would so relate. She did a fine job being thorough in sharing their story.

“When I fell from the Sky”
First off, it is amazing she survived a 10,000-foot fall and with very little injury! She talks about her 11-day survival in the Rain Forest to safety. And she also talks about her parent’s lifelong work in the Rain Forest. Her growing up in it and then doing the same work her parents did. And the horrendous trip just getting to where they had set up Camp.... Why? You certainly need to be greatly dedicated!

“Fly Girl”
What I liked about this book was that it felt like fresh air reading it. It was a nice enjoyable book. And wow what it took to be a Stewardess. She wanted to be one as a kid and made her dream come true. She loved the job

“What she left behind”
It was well liked on the HF site, so I gave it a go. As I read it, I started feeling bummed, but I didn’t know why. And after I quit it about 100 pages in and that feeling went away. The two-story lines grab you from the get-go, so in that sense it was a good book although the 1st chapter was just wrong! Why would someone do that (you have to read it to know what I mean). A review I read said it was “”Jarring,”” yep.. I’d say that.

Last updated January 02, 2023