The Lion Women of Tehran

I read The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali for book club. The book description says, "In 1950s Tehran, seven-year-old Ellie lives in grand comfort until the untimely death of her father, forcing Ellie and her mother to move to a tiny home downtown. Lonely and bearing the brunt of her mother’s endless grievances, Ellie dreams for a friend to alleviate her isolation. Luckily, on the first day of school, she meets Homa, a kind girl with a brave and irrepressible spirit. Together, the two girls play games, learn to cook in the stone kitchen of Homa’s warm home, wander through the colorful stalls of the Grand Bazaar, and share their ambitions of becoming “lion women.” But their happiness is disrupted when Ellie and her mother are afforded the opportunity to return to their previous bourgeois life. Now a popular student at the best girls’ high school in Iran, Ellie’s memories of Homa begin to fade. Years later, however, her sudden reappearance in Ellie’s privileged world alters the course of both of their lives. Together, the two young women come of age and pursue their own goals for meaningful futures. But as the political turmoil in Iran builds to a breaking point, one earth-shattering betrayal will have enormous consequences."

WHAT A BOOK. I loved it! I listened to it an audiobook but was so engaged that I wanted to listen to it all the time and was even listening to it in between trick or treaters on Halloween night. (I was wishing I had a hard copy so I could just zoom through the end and see what happened.) The characters were just so real and meaningful. I loved Homa so much especially, but so many characters were just so distinct and deep. I loved how the author ended things as well. This was an amazing book that opened my eyes to what it would be like to be an Iranian woman. Just a beautiful book overall. So glad I read this. Thank you, book club!

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Call Me Adnan

I saw Call Me Adnan by Reem Faruqi on a list of new-ish books written in verse, and it caught my eye since I've enjoyed other books by the other. The book description says, "Adnan Zakir loves table tennis. He's also colorblind and left-handed and has a fondness for the aviation alphabet. He's super close with his sister, Aaliyah, who is a great dancer and memorizer of the Quran, and he loves his little toddler brother, Rizwan, who only wants to grow up and play table tennis like his big brother. All Adnan dreams of is making it to the Ultimate Table Tennis Championship in Florida, and if he qualifies for the tournament, he knows he will get to spend the Eid holiday with his cousins. But when the family travels there, unthinkable tragedy strikes, and Adnan swears he'll never play table tennis ever again. Slowly, he and his family must learn to make peace and move forward, as a family."

I really liked this book. Adnan was a great character, and the story kept me interested. The book took a heavy turn in the middle that I wasn't expecting, which was very heartbreaking. But I liked the messages the book taught, and the author's note made me appreciate the author's own personal experiences with many of the circumstances in the book.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Book Club books

I'm realizing I should also be recording the books I read with Ollie for his kids' book club. Here's what we've read in 2025 & 2026.

• The Creatures of the Pines by Adam Gidwitz
• Alvin Ho by Lenore Look
• The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo
• Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller
• The Show Must Go On by Kate Klise
• Little Dog, Lost by Marion Dane Bauer
• Grimwood by Nadia Shireen
• The Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell
• Haven by Megan Wagner Lloyd (I did a separate post about this one since I read it before we picked it for book club.)
• Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald
• The Jolly Regina by Kara LaReau
• Too Small Tola by Atinuke
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
• Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective by A.B. Greenfield
• Lety Out Loud by Angela Cervantes

The Woman's Hour

I got The Woman's Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote by Elaine Weiss on audiobook from the library after seeing it somewhere. (It caught my eye because I recently saw the musical Suffs about the women's suffrage movement.) The book description says, "Nashville, August 1920. Thirty-five states have approved the Nineteenth Amendment, granting women the right to vote; one last state–Tennessee–is needed for women’s voting rights to be the law of the land. The suffragists face vicious opposition from politicians, clergy, corporations, and racists who don’t want black women voting. And then there are the 'Antis'–women who oppose their own enfranchisement, fearing suffrage will bring about the nation’s moral collapse. And in one hot summer, they all converge for a confrontation, replete with booze and blackmail, betrayal and courage. Following a handful of remarkable women who led their respective forces into battle, The Woman’s Hour is the gripping story of how America’s women won their own freedom, and the opening campaign in the great twentieth-century battles for civil rights."

This was a really inspiring read. I learned so much about the movement and the different sides and the effort it took to win the vote. The details were a little hard to keep track of at times since there were so many people to keep track of, but I didn't worry about following every person exactly and just focused on getting the overall gist/message. I'm glad I read this book and just saw there's a young reader's edition, so I'll recommend that to my daughter. At the very end (after ratification was won), there was a quote from Carrie Catt that I really loved: "The vote is the emblem of your equality, women of America, the guarantee of your liberty. That vote of yours has cost millions of dollars and the lives of thousands of women. Money to carry on this work has been given usually as a sacrifice, and thousands of women have gone without things they wanted and could have had in order that they might help get the vote for you. Women have suffered agony of soul which you can never comprehend, that you and your daughters might inherit political freedom. That vote has been costly. Prize it!"

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

A Sea of Lemon Trees

I have had A Sea of Lemon Trees by Maria Dolores Aguila on my to-read list ever since it won the Newbery Honor and finally got around to reading it. The book description says, "Twelve-year-old Roberto Alvarez is the youngest of his siblings, born on United States soil. He’s el futuro, their dream for a life away from the fire of the Mexican Revolution. Moved by anti-immigrant and anti-Mexican propaganda, the Lemon Grove school board and chamber of commerce create a separate 'Americanization' school for the Mexican children attending the Lemon Grove Grammar School. But the new Olive Street School is an old barn retrofitted for the children forced to attend a segregated school. Amid threats of deportation, the Comité de Vecinos risk everything to stand their ground and, with the support of the Mexican Consulate, choose Roberto as the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the school board in this vivid and uplifting novel in verse based on true events."

This was a great read. I loved that it was based on a true story, and it taught me about this time period and the types of things these groups of people went through. I thought Roberto was a great character, and the author did a great job putting us in his mind. I came away from the book inspired by people like Roberto and his family and community who have to be very brave to stand up for their rights.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Rebecca

I read Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier for book club. The book description says, "In Monte Carlo, our unnamed heroine is swept off her feet by the dashing widower Maxim de Winter and his sudden proposal of marriage. Orphaned and working as a lady’s maid, she can barely believe her luck. It is only when they arrive at Manderley, her husband’s cavernous estate on the Cornish coast, that she realizes how vast a shadow his late wife, Rebecca, will cast over their lives—introducing a lingering evil that threatens to destroy their love from beyond the grave."

This was a great read. It was one of those books I would have never picked up if not for book club, but I'm so glad I read it. (It's a 1938 book that is considered a "best book of the century" and has had several movie adaptations, including one by Alfred Hitchcock in 1940.) The writing was so well done, and I thought the book was super engaging. The characters were well developed and memorable. There were several parts in the book that just completely shocked me, and there were times the author just made it so easy to feel what the characters were feeling. I did some of the book by audiobook (a fun version with some musical background to help set the mood) and some by just reading.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Finding Lost

I saw Finding Lost by Holly Goldberg Sloan on some kind of book list, and since I've enjoyed at least one other book by the author, I got it from the library. The book description says, "Cordy Jenkins is searching for something that will change her life, and for the safety that vanished when her father died. She is convinced that if she just tries hard enough, she will find part of what her family lost, which will stop her mom from wanting to leave the small town she and her little brother have always called home. What Cordy finds instead is a muddy, hungry little dog with bad breath. And he's the start of her family's new beginning."

This was a great read. I loved Cordy as a character, and the things she did and said made me laugh out loud sometimes. I liked how the story came together and the side characters. I feel like the ending was a bit of a disappointment. I did like how the author tied up loose ends, but the last chapter was just alllll the loose ends being tied up, like, This is how everything is now a little bit in the future. I just didn't think it was the strongest writing/ending. I think a different ending would have moved this book into the loved it range. 

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

I Can Fix This

I saw I Can Fix This And Other Lies I Told Myself While Parenting My Struggling Child by Kristina Kuzmic recommended somewhere, and the title caught my eye. The book description says, "When Kristina Kuzmič started to see signs that her otherwise sunny, resilient teenage son was struggling, she was sure a few simple fixes could right the ship. But over the following months, the issues her family faced became more nuanced, complicated, and pervasive than she could've predicted—and what began as a clear to do list spiraled into an emotionally fraught and seemingly endless push and pull between signs of progress and overwhelming fear. Despite her best efforts, Kuzmič had internalized a set of obligations, ideas, and unrealistic standards from parenting culture and social media that left her unprepared to guide her child when he needed her most. Featuring an urgent and affirming foreword by renowned and New York Times bestselling clinician Dr. Shefali Tsabary—Kuzmič's new book debunks ten "parenting truths” that kept her in crisis, and delves into her insecurities and the mistakes she made to reveal invaluable lessons and transformative approaches that worked. While her family stands on the other side now stronger than ever, Kuzmič's journey calls to parents who have felt the instinct to say 'I can fix this' in situations where good intentions far exceed our abilities to enact change."

This was a great read. I was super engaged in Kristina's story and was inspired by how she endured some very difficult times with her son. I think this book would be particularly meaningful for people who have children with serious mental health struggles.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Blood Over Bright Haven

I read Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang for book club. The book description says, "An orphan since the age of four, Sciona has always had more to prove than her fellow students. For twenty years, she has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fueled by a mad desire to achieve the impossible: to be the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry. When she finally claws her way up the ranks to become a highmage, however, she finds that her challenges have just begun. Her new colleagues will stop at nothing to let her know she is unwelcome, beginning with giving her a janitor instead of a qualified lab assistant. What neither Sciona nor her peers realize is that her taciturn assistant was once more than a janitor; before he mopped floors for the mages, Thomil was a nomadic hunter from beyond Tiran’s magical barrier. Ten years have passed since he survived the perilous crossing that killed his family. But working for a highmage, he sees the opportunity to finally understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland, and keep the Tiranish in power. Through their fractious relationship, mage and outsider uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever—if it doesn’t get them killed first. Sciona has defined her life by the pursuit of truth, but how much is one truth worth with the fate of civilization in the balance?"

This was a great book! I was very engaged in the story and really liked the characters of Sciona and Thomil. I haven't read a lot of adult fantasy type books (and really it's been quite awhile), so it was interesting to be back in a world-building type book. The book was kind of heavy at times with just lots of bad things happening, so I had to take breaks now and then. But it was a great story and premise, and at the end, I was just like, wow, that was crazy. I think it'll be a really fun book to discuss at book club.

Rating: * * (2/3) = Liked it

Small Things Like These

I saw Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan recommended on some kind of list and so got it from the library. The book description says, "It is 1985 in a small Irish town. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man faces into his busiest season. Early one morning, while delivering an order to the local convent, Bill makes a discovery which forces him to confront both his past and the complicit silences of a town controlled by the church."

This was kind of a weird read for me because I wasn't sure where it was going and then it was suddenly done. I maybe should have read up on the book more so I was more prepped for what to expect because it is an award-winning and super cherished book. I am clearly missing the boat haha. But I did like a couple of the quotes at the end: "He found himself asking was there any point in being alive without helping one another? Was it possible to carry on along through all the years, the decades, through an entire life, without once being brave enough to go against what was there and yet call yourself a Christian, and face yourself in the mirror?" and "Already he could feel a world of trouble waiting for him behind the next door, but the worst that could have happened was also already behind him; the thing not done, which could have been -- which he would have had to live with for the rest of his life." I really liked the ending and the message. I saw in a review on Amazon that someone described it as being similar to The Christmas Carol, a meaningful story to read each Christmas. I think I maybe would have moved this to "liked" if I had gone into it seeing it like that rather than reading it more like a typical novel.

Rating: * (1/3 = It was okay)

Remarkably Bright Creatures

I just re-read Remarkably Bright Creatures for book club. Since I've read it before, I won't do a new post about it. But I loved the book again. It was so engaging that I got through it super fast (especially since I remembered how things tied together but couldn't remember all the details so was excited to just see things come together). I'm adding this post here so it still counts for my book count for the year.

When God Doesn't Fix It

I saw When God Doesn't Fix It: Lessons You Never Wanted to Learn, Truths You Can't Live Without by Laura Story advertised somewhere on the internet and decided to purchase it with some of my birthday money (since I'm a fan of the author's song Blessings). The book description says, "Laura's life took an unexpected turn when her husband, Martin, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The fairy-tale life she had dreamed of was forever altered when they learned there was no cure to restore Martin's short-term memory, eyesight, and other complications. In When God Doesn't Fix It, Laura draws from her own journey through ongoing hardship and shares powerful biblical truths about trusting God when life doesn't unfold the way we planned. Yes, with God all things are possible. But what happens when God does not change the situation? As Laura wrestled with broken dreams, she discovered joy, deeper intimacy with Jesus, and a faith strong enough to endure unanswered questions. For anyone learning to walk by faith when God seems silent, distant, or unwilling to remove the pain, When God Doesn't Fix It offers an honest and hopeful look at the hard truths."

I loved this book! It was super engaging with lots of meaningful insights. I liked the way the book was written--in order as she faced the trial surrounding her husband's health but with regularly clearly explained lessons. I think this book would really benefit people struggling with trials in their lives that don't just "get better."

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Exposures

I got Exposures by Lily Williams after seeing it on the new book list at the library. The book description says, "Let me tell you about the winter I had to face all my fears. I used to like a lot of things when I was younger, like dancing, baking, and most of all skiing. But as I got older, things started to change…I started to feel afraid of things like certain colors, numbers, and cracks in the sidewalk. But there was a way to manage these scary thoughts, and start enjoying the things I used to – it started with something called exposure therapy. Even though it was hard at first, I learned how brave I truly am. This is the story of my OCD and how, despite the challenges, I learned to face my fears."

This was a super well-done graphic novel. I really enjoyed it and immediately passed it onto my 16-year-old. The author did an awesome job helping the reader understand what it was like for Peyton to live with OCD, and I loved the way it showed her journey to overcoming the worst of her symptoms. The author's note shared that the author deals with a similar diagnosis but didn't get diagnosed as a kid (Peyton was 12) but instead as an adult--but this is how it could have been if she'd gotten help earlier. The illustrations were great, and it was a meaningful story. Definitely recommend this one.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

I read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum for book club. The book description says, "First published in 1901, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” follows the magical adventure of Dorothy, a young girl who lives with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry on a farm in Kansas. One day when Dorothy is caught up in tornado with her little dog, Toto, she finds her farmhouse has been magically transplanted to Munchkin Country in the mystical Land of Oz. Her house lands on the evil Wicked Witch of the East, killing her, and freeing the Munchkins from her rule. As a reward the Good Witch of the North gives Dorothy the magical Silver Shoes that belonged to the Witch and sets her on her way down the yellow brick road to the Emerald City to ask the Wizard for help in returning to Kansas. Along the way she meets several interesting characters including the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion who join her on her travels to ask the Wizard for help of their own. The journey is not without peril though, as the Wicked Witch of the West, who wants revenge for the killing of her sister and to regain the magical Silver Shoes, unleashes numerous dangers against Dorothy and her companions. 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' is a classic story of fantasy which is considered to be the first American fairy tale."

This was a fun read. I honestly don't know if I've ever read this book before. I maybe have, but it felt like the first time. I was constantly comparing it to the movie and to Wicked. There were parts of the book that aren't in either, and it was fun to read things like that. I thought it was an enjoyable read and think it'd be fun for Ollie to read. The characters were really distinct and just fun. I also loved some of the lines, like what Oz said to the lion about courage: "You have plenty of courage, I am sure. All you need is confidence in yourself. There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty."

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Everything is Tuberculosis

I've had Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection on my to-read list for awhile and finally had the time to get to it on audiobook. The book description says, "Tuberculosis has been entwined with hu­manity for millennia. Once romanticized as a malady of poets, today tuberculosis is seen as a disease of poverty that walks the trails of injustice and inequity we blazed for it. In 2019, author John Green met Henry Reider, a young tuberculosis patient at Lakka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone. John be­came fast friends with Henry, a boy with spindly legs and a big, goofy smile. In the years since that first visit to Lakka, Green has become a vocal advocate for increased access to treatment and wider awareness of the healthcare inequi­ties that allow this curable, preventable infec­tious disease to also be the deadliest, killing over a million people every year. In Everything Is Tuberculosis, John tells Henry’s story, woven through with the scientific and social histories of how tuberculosis has shaped our world—and how our choices will shape the future of tuberculosis."

This was a really interesting read. I knew very little about TB beside the fact that sometimes you have to get a TB test to get a job or something, but I had no idea how widespread it still is in poor countries. I thought John Green made many powerful points about how the cure is where the disease is not and the disease is where the cure is not. He also observes how we in rich countries don't care enough about TB since it doesn't affect us, so there aren't enough resources poured into it. It was an eye-opening book, and I think it's really meaningful that John Green has found a way to use his platform to speak up for people who are suffering from and dying from TB. One of his lines said, "How can I accept a world where over a million people will die this year for want of a cure that has existed for nearly a century?" I'd definitely recommend this book. 

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Correspondent

I read The Correspondent by Virginia Evans for book club. The book description says, "Sybil Van Antwerp has throughout her life used letters to make sense of the world and her place in it. Most mornings, around half past ten, Sybil sits down to write letters—to her brother, to her best friend, to the president of the university who will not allow her to audit a class she desperately wants to take, to Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry to tell them what she thinks of their latest books, and to one person to whom she writes often yet never sends the letter. Sybil expects her world to go on as it always has—a mother, grandmother, wife, divorcee, distinguished lawyer, she has lived a very full life. But when letters from someone in her past force her to examine one of the most painful periods of her life, she realizes that the letter she has been writing over the years needs to be read and that she cannot move forward until she finds it in her heart to offer forgiveness."

This was a great read, which didn't surprise me since it had a crazy long wait list at the library. I listened to the book on audiobook and was very engaged in the story. Sybil was just such a unique character that the reader can get to know so well through her many different letters. I loved all the side characters--the employee she meets through the ancestry company, the kid who lives with her for a time, the old man next door, etc.--and the side stories, like her trying to audit a class at the local college. The overarching storyline about her son who she lost was a powerful story, and I loved seeing how Sybil grew and changed even in her old age. I thought the book came together beautifully as well. I feel like this book is in between liked and loved, and I wish I had written this right after I finished so I could give a more accurate rating.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Will's Race for Home

I've had Will's Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes on my to-read list for forever, ever since it was on lists of possible Newbery winners and then won the Coretta Scott King Book Award. The book description says, "It’s 1889, barely twenty-five years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and a young Black family is tired of working on land they don’t get to own. So when Will and his father hear about an upcoming land rush, they set out on a journey from Texas to Oklahoma, racing thousands of others to the place where land is free—if they can get to it fast enough. But the journey isn’t easy—the terrain is rough, the bandits are brutal, and every interaction carries a heavy undercurrent of danger. And then there’s the stranger they encounter and befriend: a mysterious soldier named Caesar, whose Union emblem brings more attention—and more trouble—than any of them need. All three are propelled by the promise of something long denied to them: freedom, land ownership, and a place to call home—but is a strong will enough to get them there?"

This was a great read. I liked that it was a solid middle grade historical fiction read but fairly short (208 pages). I feel like that short length makes it more accessible to young kids. The book also captured a time period/historical events that I didn't know much about, so I enjoyed following the story and learning more about what it would have been like for these characters. I liked Will's independence, bravery, and resilience, and I found the story engaging and exciting. I think kids would enjoy the action. It'd be a fun classroom read aloud!

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

My Brother Oliver

I got My Brother Oliver by R.L. Toalson after seeing it on a new books list at the library. The book description says, "Brooks loves and adores his older brother, Oliver. That’s why it was so hard—practically impossible, really—for him to have done what he did and told his parents about what Oliver wanted to do. Now Oliver has been sent away. He’s miserable, and Brooks’s family is falling apart. His mom and dad are sad and scared, and it seems like nothing will ever be okay again. Maybe things would be better if Brooks had just kept his mouth shut. Can he and his family find the hope they need to keep going?"

This was a great read. I was completely engaged in the story, and the author did a great job portraying the two brothers. It was an interesting format where it jumped back and forth in time, but I think that helped the story build in a really important way. I found the book relatable and meaningful, and I think it'd be a great read to help people better understand mental illness. I really liked that the author was writing from her family's personal experience. This book was in between loved it and liked it--just know I really liked it!

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Demon Copperhead

I read Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver for book club. The book description says, "Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. Relayed in his own unsparing voice, Demon braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses."

This was a bit of a hard read for me because there was a lot of heavy language and content in there that I didn't really want to read. It was better when I switched to reading the hard copy of the book rather than audiobook because then I could skim over things a little easier. But if you are careful about what you read, I would not recommend this book. Besides that, I thought it was a super engaging story with a character (Demon) that I was rooting for the whole time. I was so grateful for how the book ended and that there was a positive ending to a life full of hard things. I thought the book gave me a great introduction to what life is like for the Appalachian people, especially related to things like addiction and stereotypes.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Theo of Golden

I read Theo of Golden by Allen Levi for book club. The book description says, "One spring morning, a stranger named Theo arrives in the small Southern city of Golden. He doesn’t explain much about where he came from or why he’s there—but when he visits the local coffeehouse, where pencil portraits of the people of Golden hang on the walls, he begins purchasing them, one at a time, and giving each portrait to the person depicted. In exchange, he asks only for the person’s story. And so portrait by portrait, person by person, secrets are revealed, regrets are shared, and ordinary lives are profoundly altered. A story of giving and receiving, of seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is an unforgettable novel about the power of generosity, the importance of connection, and the quiet miracles that happen when we choose kindness and wonder."

I LOVED this book! I didn't know anything about it when I started, but it was just such a pleasant read. I feel like it's so rare to read an adult book that is just happy and inspiring and not full of inappropriate content. This book was just a lovely read, though as it went on, I knew something bad was going to happen, which made me nervous to carry on. But in the end, I came away from the book really touched, and I loved how things came together. Theo was just a great character and someone we all should emulate. I loved lots of the side characters as well and how Theo just influenced everyone he came in contact with. It was also funny because I read this book on vacation, and I had at least two people walk by and comment on the book and how good it was. It does have a CRAZY long wait list at the library -- I made my book club wait a few months before picking it so we could all get further along on the hold list.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)