It’s amazing all of the cool things that are going on around you if you choose to look. In my Facebook perusing a few weeks ago, I found a Donna Everhart book signing, hosted by Pig City Books. I had Everhart’s book, “Saints of Swallow Hill” in my TBR pile for quite some time but, for whatever reason, I hadn’t gotten around to reading it yet. I purchased two more of her books at the event and have since read “When The Jessamine Grows.” You can see all of my book reviews on my Instagram [or Bookstagram, as all the cool kids are calling it].
Donna Everhart Book Signing
There was a Q&A where Everhart answered questions from both the host and the audience. One of the questions involved her giving short synopses about each of her books and I realized that I was most interested in reading “When The Jessamine Grows” at the moment. If you are interested in strong female characters, historical fiction and reading about people who do what they feel is morally right, no matter what it costs them, then this book is for you. Check out the rest of our pictures from the Donna Everhart book signing on Flickr.
I have committed my 2024 reading to focusing as much as possible on female authors, people of color and banned authors. I have also found myself reading a lot historical fiction, particular that relating to the Civil War and the World Wars. Examples of historical fiction that I have very much enjoyed this year [besides the Everhart novel just mentioned] are “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah, “Cold Mountain” by Charles Frazier and “The Beguiled” by Thomas Cullinan. If you have any similar recommendations, or even something totally different, as I also enjoy swapping between genres, I am all ears. Or rather, all eyes. 😉
2024 Reading Log And Ratings
I was able to read 7 books in April. That is down a little from my previous months with the greatest being January, with 10 books read. Hopefully I can pick things up a little in May. I am doing the Read Your Height challenge and I think that I am on track to complete it so far. I am only 5’4″, so that helps. Here is the complete list of books that I have read this year, so far, with ratings.
- The Fault In Our Stars [John Greene] ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Walk To Beautiful [Jimmy Wayne] ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The Perks Of Being A Wallflower [Stephen Chbosky] ⭐⭐⭐
- The Vow [Kim and Krickitt Carpenter] ⭐⭐⭐
- Open Book [Jessica Simpson] ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Run, Rose, Run [Dolly Parton, James Patterson] ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The Red Ribbon [Pepper Basham] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ *My first 5 star read for the year and the start of a 5 star streak!
- The Bluest Eye [Toni Morrison] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cold Mountain [Charles Frazier] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Bridge To Terabithia [Katherine Paterson – reread from childhood] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The Nightingale [Kristin Hannah] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian [Sherman Alexie] ⭐⭐⭐ *and then the 5 star streak came to a crashing halt…
- How To Love A Jamaican [Alexia Arthurs] ⭐⭐⭐
- A Court Of Wings And Ruin [Sarah J Maas] ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- A Court Of Frost And Starlight [Sarah J Maas] ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The Women [Kristin Hannah] ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The Beguiled [Thomas Cullinan] ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The Hate U Give [Angie Thomas] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The Underground Railroad [Colson Whitehead] ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Inside Out [Demi Moore] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society [Ann Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer] ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? [Crystal Smith Paul] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Mad Honey [Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Finney Boylan] ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Demon Copperhead [Barbara Kingsolver] ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Sold [Patricia McCormick] ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The Soul Of An Octopus [Sy Montgomery] ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder [Holly Jackson] ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Regretting You [Colleen Hoover] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- A Court Of Silver Flames [Sarah J Maas] ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- It Ends With Us [Colleen Hoover] ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- It Starts With Us [Colleen Hoover] ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Wildflower [Drew Barrimore] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- When The Jessamine Grows [Donna Everhart] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Me [Elton John] ⭐⭐⭐⭐
How are you doing in your 2024 reading so far? Also, what series should I work on next since I have completed ACOTAR [at least what is currently published]?
