The Mystery Guest

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose is the sequel to The Maid, a book I read for book club last month. The book description says, "Molly Gray is not like anyone else. With her flair for cleaning and proper etiquette, she has risen through the ranks of the glorious five-star Regency Grand Hotel to become the esteemed Head Maid. But just as her life reaches a pinnacle state of perfection, her world is turned upside down when J. D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, drops dead—very dead—on the hotel’s tearoom floor. When Detective Stark, Molly’s old foe, investigates the author’s unexpected demise, it becomes clear that this death was murder most foul. Suspects abound, and everyone wants to know: Who killed J. D. Grimthorpe? Was it Lily, the new Maid-in-Training? Or was it Serena, the author’s secretary? Could Mr. Preston, the hotel’s beloved doorman, be hiding something? And is Molly really as innocent as she seems? As the high-profile death threatens the hotel’s pristine reputation, Molly knows she alone holds the key to unlocking the killer’s identity. But that key is buried deep in her past, as long ago, she knew J. D. Grimthorpe. Molly begins to comb her memory for clues, revisiting her childhood and the mysterious Grimthorpe mansion where she and her dearly departed Gran once worked side by side. With the entire hotel under investigation, Molly must solve the mystery posthaste. Because if there’s one thing she knows for sure, it’s that secrets don’t stay buried forever."

This was another fun, light read. I feel like it's kind of rare to find clean adult books, so I just feel like these books are kind of refreshing and fun. I think Molly is a great character, and this book brought back some characters I liked from last time but also some fun new characters. The book did some back and forth (like half the book was her remembering a sequence of events from her childhood), which wasn't always my favorite format, but it totally made the book work to do it like that. I feel like this author is interesting because I always expect the book to end way sooner and then there's just a ton more book left to tie up loose ends and wrap things up. It's just a different style. There was a part toward the end where Molly was asked if she knew what was going on in the hotel, and she just said, "How would I know? I'm just the maid." (When she heavily involved in what was going on.) And I thought that would have been a perfect ending to the book. But then there was like an hour left in the audiobook haha. But I did enjoy getting all the extra stuff that the book cleared up in the rest of the story.

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

Octopus Moon

I saw Octopus Moon by Bobbie Pyron shared somewhere as a new book coming out and got it from the library. The book description says, "Pearl loves watching the majestic loggerhead turtles and octopuses glide through the water at the aquarium. Pearl finds it especially easy to identify with the octopuses, who have millions of touch receptors all over their bodies. They feel everything. Sometimes, Pearl wishes she was more like a turtle, with a hard outer shell—it hurts too much to feel everything.And the changes at the start of fifth grade don’t feel good to Pearl at all. New teachers, lockers, and being in different classes than her friends is unsettling. Pearl tries her best to pretend she’s fine, but she starts to struggle with things that used to come easy, like schoolwork, laughing and skateboarding with her best friend, Rosie, running and even sleeping. After a disastrous parent-teacher conference, her parents decide to bring Pearl to Dr. Jill, who diagnoses her with depression. At first Pearl is resistant to Dr. Jill’s help; she doesn’t like feeling different, but she also doesn’t want to continue feeling so bad all the time. When Dr. Jill asks Pearl to try one Impossible Thing each day, like running, skateboarding, or walking her dog Tuck, she decides to try. For each impossible thing she attempts, Pearl puts a bead on a string. Bead by bead, and with the support of family and friends, Pearl finds her way back to herself. She discovers just like the moon is always there in the sky, even if it isn’t full, she’ll always be herself even when she doesn’t feel whole."

This was a great read. I definitely liked it throughout, but once I finished it and read the author's note, I was like, wow, this was an amazing book, and I should share it with others. I think it would definitely be an important read for any child struggling with depression. I liked how there were a wide variety of characters in her life who all handled her depression in different ways (easy for the reader to know who you should be emulating if you have a friend who is struggling). The book was really real, and though it could be a little heavy at times, it was beautiful to watch Pearl work through things with Dr. Jill. I also loved that Dr. Jill was such a perfect therapist. Maybe not realistic but really nice for the book. :) I liked Pearl's relationship with her grandpa. Overall I think this was a great read.

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

The Power of Moments

The Power of Moments by Chip Heath and Dan Heath was recommended at one of my book clubs recently, so I got it on audiobook. The book description says, "While human lives are endlessly variable, our most memorable positive moments are dominated by four elements: elevation, insight, pride, and connection. If we embrace these elements, we can conjure more moments that matter. What if a teacher could design a lesson that he knew his students would remember twenty years later? What if a manager knew how to create an experience that would delight customers? What if you had a better sense of how to create memories that matter for your children? This book delves into some fascinating mysteries of experience: Why we tend to remember the best or worst moment of an experience, as well as the last moment, and forget the rest. Why 'we feel most comfortable when things are certain, but we feel most alive when they’re not.' And why our most cherished memories are clustered into a brief period during our youth. Readers discover how brief experiences can change lives, such as the experiment in which two strangers meet in a room, and forty-five minutes later, they leave as best friends. (What happens in that time?) Or the tale of the world’s youngest female billionaire, who credits her resilience to something her father asked the family at the dinner table. (What was that simple question?) Many of the defining moments in our lives are the result of accident or luck—but why would we leave our most meaningful, memorable moments to chance when we can create them? The Power of Moments shows us how to be the author of richer experiences."

This was an interesting read. To me, the audience seemed to be more people who are business owners or work in leadership positions or things like that. I think I would have enjoyed it more if more seemed directly applicable to my life (like a "Power of Moments" primary focused on parenting). But there were definitely things that stuck with me. One example is a line the authors used several times: "Beware the life-sucking force of reasonableness." (Like sometimes you have an idea on how to create a powerful moment, but it seems unreasonable, so you drop it. One example was a business that does handwritten thank you notes, but with all the logistics, reason says, Why don't we just do it via email? But that takes away the power these thank you notes can have.) There was another line that said, "Courage is contagious." Again, it went with specific stories, but the message is that when one person has courage, it encourages others to do the same. Anyway, I thought this was an interesting book to listen to with some great points, and I'm hoping I subconsciously took away some things that will affect my day-to-day life.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Beat I Drum

I got The Beat I Drum by Dusti Bowling for my daughter and then decided to read it too! It's book 3 in the Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus series, which we had read previously. The book description says, "Connor Bradley is dreading the first day of high school. Not just because he is new, or because he misses his best friends, but because he knows the other kids won’t understand his barking and tics. Connor has Tourette Syndrome, and every day has been a challenge—from the mimicking to the laughing, the questions, and the stares. It turns out school isn’t quite as bad as he expected. Connor forms a fast friendship with a girl who also has Tourette’s and is welcomed into her accepting circle of friends. He also meets a special music teacher who encourages him to take up the drums to manage his stress, and maybe get a break from his tics. But Connor’s world is turned upside down when his absent father reappears and a bully starts to escalate at school. All these problems—with family, with friends, and even with himself—build and build until Connor feels ready to explode. Will a surprising revelation save him and help him find his beat again?"

This was a great read. I enjoyed diving deeper into Connor's character and watching him navigate a lot of heavy things. I liked that he found good friends and an amazing teacher, and I thought the book taught some good lessons and relationships and forgiveness. It also was a great perspective on what it's like to live with Tourette Syndrome. I'm glad I read this one.

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

The Power of Fear

I had heard The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us From Violence by Gavin De Becker recommended and so got it on audiobook from the library. I realized after starting that the version I got was an abridged version, though, so I didn't get the full book. But the book description says, "A date won't take "no" for an answer. The new nanny gives a mother an uneasy feeling. A stranger in a deserted parking lot offers unsolicited help. The threat of violence surrounds us every day. But we can protect ourselves, by learning to trust—and act on—our gut instincts. In this empowering book, Gavin de Becker, the man Oprah Winfrey calls the nation's leading expert on violent behavior, shows you how to spot even subtle signs of danger—before it's too late. Shattering the myth that most violent acts are unpredictable, de Becker, whose clients include top Hollywood stars and government agencies, offers specific ways to protect yourself and those you love, including...how to act when approached by a stranger...when you should fear someone close to you...what to do if you are being stalked...how to uncover the source of anonymous threats or phone calls...the biggest mistake you can make with a threatening person...and more. Learn to spot the danger signals others miss. It might just save your life."

This was an interesting read. I kinda wish Libby had the full version because there were some gaps that I think would have been resolved if I read the full version. But I did like the messages about trusting your gut and realizing that your brain is noticing more than you think it is. I also liked how he distinguished in the end between the gift of fear and unnecessary worrying. I think it was an important distinction (especially for me as a worrier), but again, I feel like the full version probably dug into it quite a bit more. Maybe I'll have to go back and read the whole thing sometime.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

Everything Happens for a Reason and Other Lies I've Loved

Everything Happens for a Reason and Other Lies I've Loved by Kate Bowler has been on my to-read list, and then it became the book for one of my book clubs! So I got it on audiobook from Libby. The book description says, "Kate Bowler is a professor at Duke Divinity School with a modest Christian upbringing, but she specializes in the study of the prosperity gospel, a creed that sees fortune as a blessing from God and misfortune as a mark of God’s disapproval. At thirty-five, everything in her life seems to point toward “blessing.” She is thriving in her job, married to her high school sweetheart, and loves life with her newborn son. Then she is diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. The prospect of her own mortality forces Kate to realize that she has been tacitly subscribing to the prosperity gospel, living with the conviction that she can control the shape of her life with 'a surge of determination.' Even as this type of Christianity celebrates the American can-do spirit, it implies that if you 'can’t do' and succumb to illness or misfortune, you are a failure. Kate is very sick, and no amount of positive thinking will shrink her tumors. What does it mean to die, she wonders, in a society that insists everything happens for a reason? Kate is stripped of this certainty only to discover that without it, life is hard but beautiful in a way it never has been before."

This was a little bit of a different read than I expected. I think I was expecting more life lessons and how she came about a new understanding of things when it was more of a memoir about her experiences. I think I would have preferred the former. I think the audiobook version wasn't the best choice for me either because the reader (who I think was the author) came across really negative and complaining. I'm all about being bitter during trying times, so I didn't mind that mindset, but I guess the tone just got kind of grating.  I am not a believer in the "prosperity gospel," so a lot of the things she had to come to terms with, I already believe, but I do think this will lead to some interesting discussion during book club.

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

The Strongest Heart

I saw The Strongest Heart by Saadia Faruqi on a list of new books and got it from the library since I've read other books by the author. The book description says, "Mo is used to his father’s fits of rage. When Abbu's moods shake the house, Mo is safe inside his head, with his cherished folktales: The best way to respond is not to engage. Apparently, his mama knows that too—which is why she took a job on the other side of the world, leaving Mo alone with Abbu. With Mama gone, the two move to Texas to live with Mo’s aunt and cousin, Rayyan. The two boys could not be more different. Rayyan is achievement-driven and factual; Mo is a 'bad kid.' Still, there is a lot to like about living in Texas. Sundays at the mosque are better than he’d expected. And Rayyan and his aunt become a real family to Mo. But even in a warm home and school where he begins to see a future for himself, Mo knows that the monster within his father can break out and destroy their fragile peace at any moment…"

This was a great read. The story immediately pulled me in, and I was really rooting for Mo. He had a heavy life he was carrying with both parents being difficult in different ways, so I was so grateful for his aunt and cousin that gave him some stability and made the read more bearable. I thought the book did great character development/growth and taught some important lessons about mental health conditions. The author's note at the end also shared that the book was based on the author's own experiences growing up, and I always appreciate authentic books like this.

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