I‘m not sure how I‘ll do with this book because it‘s not a genre I favor, but I‘m giving it a try as it‘s a book given to me for an early review by #sfwp.com. Books I‘ve read in the past from this indie press have pretty much always been terrific.

Oooh! Nice! I just won this book from the #LittleFreeLibrary website and from the publisher, Simon & Schuster. I plan to read this book, register it on #BookCrossing and then share it with others. It‘s a light, enjoyable read so far.

Ibram X. Kendi‘s book, Stamped From the Beginning, had a few pages talking about this novel which had been first published during the Civil War. I skipped the discussion of this book until I could read it for myself—-which I am doing now.

I‘m reading this book *very* slowly to take in as much information as I can. I‘m being blown away by the vast amount of research and organization that went into writing this book. It would be a profound understatement to say I‘m disappointed in what I was taught about American history as a student. I‘m having a rude awakening into what this country is all about now because I can clearly see what this country has always been about.

I borrowed this book from my library (at least I can in my state!) to see what the fuss is about this book and to learn why it is often known for being “the most #banned book”. I can see how individual parents or teachers would be uncomfortable about some of its contents. However the essential “baring the soul” of the author was necessary to connect with people who have these same questions in order to reach out to them and those who love them.

I found this book at my public library. It appealed to me because I am trying to learn more about the immigrant experience. In this book immigrants from various Asian countries, share their experiences in drawings, poems and prose. Some of their experiences are very painful. Others remind me of situations of my own (non-Asian) family. I think this book is important to let others feel what it is really like to be an Asian immigrant to America.

I started this horror novel based on the blurb by Stephen King on this book‘s cover. Once I got hooked into the story (right away!), it no longer bothered me that this novel is 767 pages long. I hope to finish it one day—sooner rather than later!

I just started reading this book which discusses racism and “casteism”. It is beautifully written and makes so much sense, but it is deeply sad.

I was finally able to borrow this book from my public library. I‘m not in favor of royalty or monarchies, but I‘m finding Harry‘s story very appealing.

I just started this book which I received from a fellow BookCrosser. This book had me in tears by the second chapter so that means it‘s a keeper (except that I‘ll release it through #BookCrossing when it‘s completed).

Such a fun author to read! All the books by this #Japanese author are totally #weird. My favorite of his novels was “The Ark Sakura”. This novel I won from a book release challenge by fellow #BookCrosser GoryDetails. Thank you. In the novel so far, a private investigator has been hired to find a woman‘s husband who mysteriously & suddenly disappeared while standing near a manhole cover in the middle of the summer. Not much to go on, eh? 😃

I‘m revisiting the aftermath of the tragic death of Freddie Gray at the hands of police in Baltimore in this book by the now Governor of Maryland who is himself black and a Baltimore resident. As a former resident of Baltimore, I want less tragedy and more hope and racial progress for my old hometown.

Such an interesting book! This #graphicnovel is about if wishes were a real thing. *returning to this new library book to find out what happens*

This is turning out to be a great book! I requested it from the #EarlyReviewer program on #LibraryThing. I was interested in reading more about Benjamin Banneker as I am familiar with him because I live near where his historical home was. The book is written by his descendant who is a white woman. Its discussion of #race in a historical context as well as in current times is fascinating. This is a beautifully written and well researched book.

I‘m not sure if I like this book or not. It‘s the story of a #multiracial (#Jewish/#Japanese) young woman, living with her boyfriend, who took a job as a researcher on #happiness at the world‘s third-most-popular internet company. I‘m not sure where this book is headed. Maybe once I figure that out, I might like it more.

This is a book I requested from the #LibraryThing #EarlyReviewer program. It‘s the story of the author‘s return to #Nigeria to learn why & how his uncle Emmanuel, for whom he was named, disappeared during the #NigerianCivilWar in the late 1960s. I remember hearing about #Biafra in the news when I was younger, but never knew much about that country. I‘m learning surprising things now...such as that country only lasted for less than three years!

I did it! I got hold of Marie Kondo‘s new book to see if anything‘s changed in her tidying outlook. Some of her ideas work for me; others not so much! 😄

The cover of this book made me pick it up to browse. It sounded interesting so I started reading it yesterday. It‘s the story of a nine-year-old girl who needed jaw surgery for cancer. This sounds pretty awful, but the beginning of the book is surprisingly upbeat and nice to read. The book itself was written by that child survivor of Ewing‘s Sarcoma. I like books that promote hope and have those who actually survive a catastrophe.

I just started this novel tonight for a challenge on #LibraryThing to read a novel by an author who was born in a North African country. The author of this book was born in #Morocco, and, as far as I‘ve read, our protagonist is still in Morocco trying to figure out how to get to Europe. Back to my book see what happens...! 😃

The title of this book is really Bugaku Treasures from the Kasuga Shrine. I don‘t know the author, but the contents were provided by the Kasuga Shrine in Nara, Japan. It was a book I serendipitously found in my #LittleFreeLibrary. I am reading it now with fascination as I‘ve been following my older son‘s trip to Japan in which he visited several shrines (but not this one). This is an oversized softcover with gorgeous photos!

I‘ve just started this book and hope I like it. Generally I really like #Japanese fiction. Now my older son is visiting Tokyo, and I‘m sitting at home drinking hot tea in a cup he brought me from a previous visit to #Japan. I‘m just trying to get into the mood to enjoy this book! 😊

I just started this book, but I‘m not sure if I like it very much. The beginning is kind of slow. I‘ve read books by Anne Tyler before, and I like that her books are set in #Baltimore, the city in which I grew up. I‘ll keep reading and see if it the action picks up.

This is an #EarlyReviewer book from #LibraryThing which I am currently reading. After having been given a diagnosis of Alzheimer‘s Disease, Sky Yardley writes with humor how he is dealing with his situation while his wife Jane Dwinell gives helpful advice for any family member living with or caring for a person afflicted with this progressive memory loss and eventually fatal condition.

I found this book on my bookshelf and chose it to read for the #LibraryThing challenge to read a book by an author born in #NorthAfrica. I‘d read and enjoyed books by this author before, but many years ago. I find this book intriguing. It‘s background is political, referring many times back to the #Egyptian Revolution in 1952. I had to look this up in order to give this read better context. I‘m glad I did.

I am totally blown away by this book in which the author, a culinary historian and a Jew, talks about the intersection of Black and Jewish cultures. Just fascinating!

This is so true. It‘s often hard to get away from all the information that‘s thrown our way day after day. It‘s overwhelming!!

Someone left this book in my #LittleFreeLibrary. With all the chaos of the holiday season surrounding me, this actually seemed as if it would be a good read so I did start reading it today!

In the beginning of reading this book by a noted Israeli author, I thought I wouldn‘t like this story because of the disagreeable main character. He‘s sort of growing on me, though. Maybe because of his grouchiness! 😄

Recommended by my husband‘s niece, this #memoir is by a man from #ElSalvador who as a nine-year-old child was sent alone to be smuggled into the United States by a “coyote”. Every #immigrant has his or her own story about their struggles. This one is especially upsetting to me because the story is too familiar. My heart breaks at the thought of such a young child traveling with strangers through unknown territory to an uncertain future.

Critical thinking is just as important for adults as for kids so we need to focus on developing this skill in others we teach as early as possible.

Think you‘re not racist? Think again!

I know I‘m also trying to read three other books at this time, but I grabbed this book at my local library because I find this author‘s writing about #antiracism so clear, compelling, and necessary to read. I‘m guessing that, of all four books, I‘ll probably finish this one first.

A most amazing book that brought me to tears. I probably could not have read it when it was first published—in 2018. This book features tweets by former US president Trump on the left pages, followed on the right pages with striking photos of former president Obama by the author, White House photographer Pete Sousa. It provides a stark contrast between the two men, not without snark (or call it shade) from Sousa. Just beautiful in so many ways.

I admit that I‘m a #pawpaw fanatic so I took this book out of the library with the idea of browsing through it. Nope! I‘m going to read every word of it. It is fascinating! Yes, I do have my own fruiting pawpaw tree. 😃

This is so cool! My local county public library let me do an interlibrary loan to get this book because they did not have a copy of this book not an ebook. The book arrived…and is a hardcover copyright 1920 and published June, 1924. It is 98 years old! I‘m handling it very gently as I don‘t want it to fall apart while I‘m reading it. This book was a book club selection from my husband‘s great niece‘s online Better than the Movie Book Club. :)

I‘m so happy to be reading this book by Pat Conroy, one of my favorite authors. He really was not afraid to put things in his book that were in his mind - even if they would arouse a major reaction.

I was so excited to receive this book as a donation for my #LittleFreeLibrary. It was one of the books highest on my wishlist because I was and still am a big fan of Pat Conroy‘s works. Most of his writing, including his novels, was based on his life experiences. This book highlights the author‘s rocky relationship with his dad over the years. As always, Conroy‘s writing is a pleasure to read.

I am so thrilled to be reading this book. This is the third self-published book by this author, a retired pastor and the owner of Emerald Isle Books and Toys in Emerald Isle, #NorthCarolina. Yes, I‘m sitting near the ocean to maximize my pleasure and make this my beach read. All of the books by this author are so sensitive. They touch my heart. I just started this book, but I have no doubt I‘ll like it as much as I did his other two.

Yikes!! This is such a #creepy book that I can‘t put it down. I have to know what happens (…as only now I note that this story is Part 1 of a trilogy)!

I needed some books to read for a week at the beach. This book was one I picked because it was small and looked interesting. I just started it today.

This small paperback called out to me from a neighborhood #LittleFreeLibrary. Author Elie Wiesel, one of my heroes, recalls in different ways the mysteries of the #Holocaust...which can never be explained.

What a strange, but fascinating book! Published over 50 years ago, it‘s the story, basically in vignettes, of the weird misadventures of Tarden, a sort of secret agent who escapes from Poland, lives in the United States, but travels the world over. It‘s different! 😃

In this book, the author takes a hard look at racism against Mexicans in the United States both in the past and in the present. What she tells is both eye-opening and deeply sad.

I have so much affection for this book. It was my daughter‘s first #manga ever. She‘s no longer interested in manga so I‘ve given away her collection of books except for this one which I‘m saving (and actually reading now). I tried to get my nine-year-old grandson to read it, but he prefers to stick to Dragon Ball Z. 😂

I selected this book at random from my bookshelf. I know nothing about this book other than it is a well known older novel. I found the first two chapters intriguing and like the restaurant owner Biff‘s approach to handling his more difficult customers. I can‘t wait to see what develops from this point on.

It took me a while to get into this story, a new book just out from #SFWP. The writing is sparse and choppy, but reflective of the way the life of Rosemary is going. She‘s #homeless, in and out of hospitals and shelters, but I‘m hoping her future will be better. 🤞

This book is so absorbing. It makes me feel as if I really need to pay more attention to the many small things that can affect the life of an individual. I‘m reading this book to learn more about the author who just won the #Democratic primary election for governor of #Maryland, although this biography is actually about two different individuals, both named Wes Moore.

As you can see, I got this book from #BookCrossing. I‘d never heard of Wes Moore until he recently ran and won in the #Democratic primary #elections as candidate for #Governor of #Maryland. I want to learn more about him before it‘s time here for the general elections so I was happy to get hold of this book.

This. Exactly this. 😢 (Should read “let alone formulate” not “let along formulate” - Oops!)

This was the first story in this small volume of #ShortStories. It was so beautiful it gave me chills. Looking forward to reading the rest of the stories. Yes, this is a very old book (c. 1973) with yellowing pages. That only added to my appreciation of it. The author died in 1965.