Welcome to Quick Lit where I share books that I chose for my own reading enjoyment in a mini-review format. These are not books I received for review, but books that I’ve been wanting to read or that have 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.
My current reads are THE KITCHEN FRONT on audio, SAVOR and THE HEALING POWERS OF HONEY on my Kindle, and LIVING A COMMITTED LIFE in paperback.
Some of my recent reviews include WHEN WE HAD WINGS, a 5-star historical fiction novel, MAD HONEY, Jodi Picoult’s newest novel, and THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE STAR, another great WWII historical fiction novel.
I’ve also been sharing many excellent children’s books lately, in celebration of Children’s Book Week last week and Non-Fiction November. See all the children’s book reviews, HERE.
As I have mentioned in the past, I am trying to read more books off of my shelves, but it’s hard to do that when review books come in the mail and new books are constantly being released. So, I added some of the books from my shelves to my Libby audio holds. Then I can read faster by dual reading…reading the physical copy and listening to it on audio. I’ve now read 22 books from my shelves and moved them out of the house. Here are 3 very different books I read and listened to in the last month.
THE TOBACCO WIVES
By: Adele Myers
Published: March 1, 2022
Publisher: William Morrow
Historical Fiction
Format: Hardcover
This was our October book club choice and it was such a nice departure from our usual historical fiction reads. I had been heavily reading WWII fiction and even though this is set during the war, it’s a completely different topic. The tobacco wives are the women of the tobacco industry in North Carolina. Bright Leaf is the main tobacco company in town and they are working hard to promote a brand new cigarette to women, MOMints, and even to pregnant women.
Maddie Sykes is a teen who has been forced to live with her aunt in Bright Leaf this summer while she sews the tobacco wives’ gala gowns. Maddie’s talent for sewing and designing dresses takes center stage as her aunt falls ill and the story revolves around her relationships with the women in town and at the factories.
This is a much different novel, full of women standing up for themselves and a fight against Big Tobacco that may just destroy the livelihood of everyone in Bright Leaf. Will the truth prevail? You’ll have to read to find out. Our book club loved it!
Oh, how thankful we are that times have changed! Check out this quote from a discussion about a possible advertisement for MOMints from the book:
Our advertisements will claim that MOMints cigarettes have all the properties of mint that our ladies desire: it calms the nerves, helps with hysterical tendencies, relieves indigestion, masks bad breath, controls the appetite to keep them slim before, during, and after their interesting condition. (This will please the husbands too!)
WE ARE NOT LIKE THEM
By: Christine Pride and Jo Piazza
Narrated by: Marin Ireland, Shayna Small, Kevin R. Free, Chanté McCormick
Published: October 5, 2021
Publisher: Atria Books
Fiction
Format: Audiobook through the library
This is our book club choice for November. We haven’t met yet, but I actually read it right after we last met instead of my usual waiting until just a few days before we meet. This contemporary novel is ripped from the headlines and set in Philadephia. Two best friends, one white and one black, are thrown into a tragedy and forced to take opposite sides.
A black teen is shot by two police officers. Riley, a news reporter hoping to be an anchor soon, feels like this could be the story that puts her in line to be the anchor. But, she is best friends with Jen, the wife of one of the officers who are under investigation for the shooting of a black teen.
In alternating chapters, we hear from Riley and Jen as they travel through the days and months after the shooting while also flashing back to their childhoods growing up as best friends and what led them to the present day. This is a great friendship story to discuss with your best friend or your book club gals as there are lots of topics to think about including race, family dynamics, loyalty, and of course, friendship.
Riley may sometimes be distracted and distant, but she would never, ever betray me. There aren’t many fundamental truths you can count on in life, but this is one of them. If I don’t believe that, then I don’t know what I can believe in.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
The Meaning and Power of the Prayer Jesus Taught
By: Adam Hamilton
Published: December 21, 2021
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Christian/Non-Fiction
Format: Hardcover
This was our study for the last year during our women’s group at church. We would read a chapter a month and discuss it at each meeting. I found this deep dive into The Lord’s Prayer quite fascinating. I can not recite the prayer in the same way as I have for years and years. I think about each line differently and it isn’t just a prayer I recite from memory anymore. It has a much deeper meaning for me thanks to this book.
But when Jesus gave this particular prayer, he was inviting his disciples to pray not only for ourselves, but also for the world around us. The prayer reminds us that Christian faith is not meant to be lived alone, but in community.
If you have a group looking for a biblical study or are looking for a deeper meaning for yourself, I highly recommend this book and the insights he shares.