I’m sharing books that I chose for my own reading enjoyment in my monthly Quick Lit posts. Not books for review, but because I’ve been wanting to read them or they caught my attention. Most of them have been talked about ad nauseam or have been on my to-read list for a long time so they don’t really need a full review. But, I’d still like to give them some space here on the blog, so instead, I’m offering mini-reviews of the books that won’t get full-page space here.
I’ll be linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy and her monthly Quick Lit link-up. Be sure to head over to see others share their Quick Lit posts. This post contains affiliate links. Click here to read more about that.
I’ve been spending a lot of my reading and blogging time on children’s books lately. I have so many great kids’ books that I want to share with you, especially before the holidays. See them HERE. So, this month I only have two books to share that I have read for my own enjoyment.
My current reads are WISH YOU WERE HERE and PERSONAL EFFECTS for review and I’m listening to MAJOR PETTIGREW’S LAST STAND on audio through my library.
Some of my recent reviews include THE STAR-CROSSED SISTERS OF TUSCANY and THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE NO GOOD YEAR.
THE SOUND OF A WILD SNAIL EATING
By: Elisabeth Tova Bailey
Published: August 15, 2010
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Non-Fiction/Memoir
Format: Hardcover from the Library
I remember Anne Bogel talking about this book on her podcast, What Should I Read Next? and I added it to my to-read list. Last month, walking back to the conference room at our library for our monthly board meeting, this book leaped out at me from the bookshelf. Ok maybe it didn’t actually leap out, but I had never seen it on our shelf before and didn’t even know our library had a copy of it. So, I grabbed it. At just about 200 pages, it’s a quick read.
Elisabeth Tova Bailey is struggling to recover from a debilitating illness when a friend brings her a snail in a plant. The snail becomes the central focus of her days and a reason to keep waking up every morning. The slow pace of the snail mimics the author’s slow pace of healing. In amongst the author’s recovery, the reader learns about snails, their habitats, food, and their general purpose on Earth and in the ecosystem.
It’s a short memoir, perfect if you are looking for a slower-paced, or snail’s paced read. I actually found it quite fascinating and now will be much more observant for snails.
THE FIREKEEPER’S DAUGHTER
By: Angeline Boulley
Narrated by: Isabella Star LaBlanc
Published: March 16, 2021
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co
Fiction/YA Fiction
Format: Audiobook
I own the physical copy of this one, but I heard the audio version was also well done, which it was. It came up on my library hold and I knew I would read it faster on audio rather than reading the physical copy. I did reference it though from time to time to get a better understanding of something confusing or to reread a portion. The narrator was amazing at using different tones and inflections with the various characters in the story.
Set in the Upper Peninsula, Sault Ste Marie area of Michigan, Daunis is a biracial 18-year-old with a Native American father and a white mother. She has always been on the fringe, not completely accepted into her Native American heritage and not accepted by the outsiders either. She is also extremely bright and plans to student medicine at the local college. When she witnesses a murder, her life is forever altered both in the near and distant future. The book chronicles how the community is affected by the murders that appear to be drug-related and her eventual decision to go undercover and help the FBI figure out who is behind the drug ring.
Even though I am usually not a huge fan of young adult books, this one held my attention all the way through. I never thought it was too cheesy or cute. There are strong, likable characters that you will root for, characters that make you angry, and a main character that fights hard for her family, her culture, and herself. I learned a lot about the Native American Ojibwe culture and their tribal council form of government.
I really liked Daunis, the main character, and two of my favorite quotes of hers from the book were…
“If you knew it was the last time you were going to see someone, would you say something profound?“
“Don’t you know, Jamie? Love is a promise. And promises you don’t keep are the worst lies of all.“
Angeline Boulley, FIREKEEPER’S DAUGHTER
This one will definitely make my favorites list of the year and one I have and will continue to recommend again and again.
What good things have you been reading? I’ve also read books that I reviewed for publishers. Check them out, HERE.
You can see all my other Quick Lit posts by clicking, HERE.
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Posted Under Angeline Boulley, audiobook, Book Review, Elizabeth Tova Bailey, Isabella Star LaBlanc, memoir, Native Americans, non-fiction, Quick Lit, YA
These both sound good! I’m particularly intrigued by The Firekeeper’s Daughter because I was born in Michigan but left as a toddler and have visited only once; I grew up in Oklahoma and got to know many Native Americans and their local culture, but I’m interested in how they live in other parts of America.
I’ve mostly been rereading books recently, but I finally read to my daughter one of Beverly Cleary’s books that I’d never gotten around to, and I also read two very different nonfiction books. Here are my reviews.
I would definitely recommend reading Firekeeper’s Daughter. It will surely be a favorite this year.