30 days of books I am grateful to have read

Often in November, I see social media posts of 30 things people are grateful for.  One year I did a list of 30 days of objects you should buy and in an effort to be different and this year I am doing 30 books that I am grateful for.  These books fall into different categories for me so I will explain my choices after each book.

Nov 1-Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell-Before I had many books, I re-read this one all the time.  I was trying to do it once a year and finally, I can say I have read it 41 times. I remember reading this book for the first time in 8th grade because I was told by a teacher that it was too long for me to read and do a book report on.  She never thought I would get it done.  I did and completely fell in love with the text.





Nov 2-The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah-One of my favorite reads of 2018.  This book has Alaska at her best, her worst and her most violent.  Family drama and happy times.  This book has domestic violence in it, so if that might be an issue you may want to steer clear. It gets rather emotional for good feelings and bad.






Nov 3-A Night To Remember by Walter Lord-I am so in love with this book and have read it many times. I read this before they found the wreckage and afterward and it was almost like reading a new book because I could actually see it now. I have a sub-book on this day, Unsinkable by David Allen Butler, which is also about the Titanic.  Full of facts and tidbits....a true Titanic lover must have.  In my opinion, you can never read too many Titanic books.








Nov 4-The Jerk by Steve Martin-This was a companion book to the film and just as funny and it features many photos from the film itself.  I have probably read this a thousand times, I remember as a child reading it over and over and over.  I lost my book when we moved in 1990 and just replaced it a few years ago.  It was about 20 years in between readings and I loved it just as much as an adult as I did when I was a child.







Nov 5-Song of the Siren by Philippa Carr--I was highlighting the whole Daughters in England on this day because I love each and every book in this series.  It follows a family from Henry VIII to WWII.  The books are so hard to put down!! This one is my favorite in the whole series. It tells the story of the short life of Carlotta Main.  Carlotta was a spitfire from the day she was born until the day she died.  She wasn't afraid of anything or anyone and wasn't scared or ashamed to give up a sure thing for love no matter what the cost.






Nov 6 -Travels in Alaska by John Muir-I read this book before I ever went to Alaska but once I found myself in Glacier Bay it took on a whole new meaning.  The only thing I couldn't see was the Northern Lights.  This book was written was published around 1915, this is an Alaska I will never see.







Nov 7-The Radium Girls by Kate Moore-I had no idea this was real until I read this book. I mean this wasn't even on my radar.  Reading about the girl's stories made me sad, made me want to hug them and kick the butts of the companies they worked for.









Nov 8-The Secret of Nimh by Robert C O'Brien-One of the first books I ever remember buying myself.  It was purchased in downtown Paducah around 1982 at Readmore Books.  That was a place my parents took us to often.  We would read magazines, books and buy .25 jawbreakers. I loved this place.  Sadly bookstores like this don't really exist anymore.






Nov 9-Next Year In Havana by Chanel Cleeton-One of the best reads of 2018 that is for sure, and without a doubt my favorite cover of all the books I have read that were published in 2018.  I longed to read this story before I went to Cuba in 2017, but it wasn't out.  I wish it would have been because we went to the cemetery described in the book.  We went to neighborhoods like the ones described.  I wish I knew more about them when we drove through.  I was mainly looking for Hemingway stuff.  This story is wonderful!! I do love how we have Cuba of the past and now the present.






Nov 10-Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford-I discovered this book a few years back and it was fascinating.  I never knew about the things that Jamie described that really happened right here in the USA.  This book started my love of WWII era historical fiction.








Nov 11-Faith of My Fathers by John McCain-I love this book so much.  The first time I read it I cried.  The second time I got even more out of it.  I really think that every American should read this.  It is about sacrifice, love of country, being a POW and how a POW comes back to society.

Nov 12-The Book of Royal Lists by Craig Brown and Lesley Cunliffe-This book is nothing but facts on the royal family.  It was written not long after the fairytale marriage of Chuck and Di so you only get positive stuff there, but you get the dirt on the other royal family members.  From Edward II and Richard III...oh, I am not going to tell you what you will learn, I will just say it is a fun and gross journey













Nov 13-A Farewell to Arms-by Ernest Hemingway-written by one of my favorite authors ever.  I am not sure what it is about Papa that I love, I just know I love him.  This is without a doubt my favorite book of his and I have read it so many times.  I still don't completely get Nurse Barkley, and the dialogue in spots needs work, but the story I adore.











Nov 14-A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner who is probably my favorite modern author.  She can write a beautiful story full of imagery and has a massive imagination.  This book is my favorite of hers because it is all about 9/11 and how our lives changed on that day.  The story follows a couple, but we all go back to our feelings that day.  Then it jumps 10 years into the future and ties that horrible past with a wonderful future.









Nov 15-The Prime Minister's Secret Agent by Susan Ella MacNeal- This series is like a female James Bond.  Maggie is an M5 agent in WWII times.  She doesn't get much respect because she is a female but keeps up with her male counterparts and in some ways surpasses them.  The series is kind of violent, but wasn't WWII?







Nov 16-The Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling- I am late to the game here as I did not fall for the books until I went to Hogsmeade in Universal Studios Florida in 2007.  I am not a huge fan of the younger years so I have only read those a couple of times, but I love the Deathly Hallows.  I mean LOVE!!!





Nov 17 North and South by John Jakes-What a GREAT novel.  Completely a soap opera saga in the TV series.  Here I think it is more of historical fiction with some trashy characters, but I love it!! Bent and Hazzard are my favorite characters in the book.  Bent is so twisted and sick and Hazzard is so good and honest.  Orry just kind of runs the middle of the road for me. I like he and George together as buddies and business partners.  Warning: this book is long but worth it.







Nov 18-Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery- I think this is a fun series. Anne Shirley is poetic, brattish and a little snooty which is odd for an orphan.  She is also a dreamer.  She dreams so much that she tends to miss the best things right in front of her face.  It takes her a while, but she eventually finds what she needs.









Nov 19 The Firm by John Grisham-I have read all of his books but the newest one, still awaiting my turn at the library.  I have favorites that are for sure, like this one, The Firm, A Time to Kill, The Chamber, Camino Island, The Last Juror, and the Rooster Bar are some of my faves.  He was my first crime novelist and I guess he will always be the best one to me.





Nov 20-The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot-I had no idea this book would be so emotional.  I had no idea that Henrietta's life was so hard.  I had no idea she was put through conditions that were inhumane.  I had no idea her cells were taken for research without the knowledge of her loved ones.  This book haunted me for a while and I had to read it again to try and make peace about what happened to Henrietta.  It was a grand book, but shocking because of the things that happened to her and her cells.

Nov 21-Looking for Alaska by John Green-A brilliant young adult writer that gets how teens think, act and feel.  I think his books are wonderful.  This one happens to be my favorite because I tend to be partial to the mysterious ways of Alaska.

Nov 22-Killing Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly- A brilliant series that makes me think.  I chose this one on this date because it was the anniversary of the assassination of Kennedy.  This book details the events leading up to the moment in front of the Book Depository and gives you a backstory on both the Kennedy's and the Oswald's.  My favorite book in this series is the Killing Patton book.






Nov 23- Hello Darlin' by Larry Hagman-I enjoyed this book because it gave us a glimpse into the life of Larry.  Everything I had ever read about him said he was a good person, married faithfully to one woman and a prankster...a bit different than one JR Ewing.  This book talks about back stories and his mom, Mary too.

Nov 24-The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald-This book fueled my love for the Roaring '20s.  There was so much greed and an awakening of individuality.  Scott was a fabulous writer and I wished he had more success in his screenwriting so we could see more of his work (like the stuff he did on GWTW), he was just too much attached to the drink.  What a shame he died so young.





Nov 25-Anatomy of a Misfit by Andrea Portes-This is a YA book that is like Mean Girls and a girl with a conscience.  I adored this book from the first time I picked it up and then I did that audio and it was equally as entertaining.  A very fast read too.






Nov 26-If I Stay by Gayle Forman-A big car wreck where people die.  A girl hangs onto life by a tiny thread.  She has to pull through.  She has so much to still live for and experience.  While she is suffering she looks back on what life was and could be....what will she choose?  Another YA and a grand slam home run winner!! Actually, every Gayle Forman book I have read is exceptional.






Nov 27-The Garden on Sunset by Martin Turnbull- This was a fun ride.  I found it while surfing the internet for books on Old Hollywood.  This popped up and the first book was free so I had to jump.  I got hooked with the first book, but then I read Trouble with Scarlett the second book and it was just perfect. Marcus, Kathryn, and Gwen are all trying to make it in Hollywood.  They all have trouble making it work, and have many famous people they befriend.  I enjoyed the dialogue with people that have been dead for a very long time.  People like Humphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe, Rudy Valentino, and Clark Gable!!!  I  have nothing but good to say about this whole series and they are not very expensive to purchase.  I am reading book 9 now (the last one), but I am taking my time because I am going to miss this.



Nov 28- Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson-I like this book because it displays how great women were in WWI.  Jennifer writes a good female character and gives her a good love story too.  This was Jennifer's first novel, but her writing doesn't peak with this book...it just gets better and better so be sure to check out her other books.






Nov 29-The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy- I did NOT want to read this book. Our teacher made us and I wasn't happy about it.  I wanted to read new books not old then wanted to hug him.  So many emotions!!! It is an oldie but a goodie.
classics.  I wasn't going to read it but then the teacher made us read during class time so I had no choice.  Well, guess what??? I loved it!! I hated Michael Henchard, then I loved him, then felt sorry for him, then forgave him,

Nov 30-Tiny Little Thing by Beatriz Williams-This lady writes books that thrill me so much.  She writes in the style that Philippa Carr did so you have to pay attention. She may mention a minor character and the next book may be about that person.  She may have a family pop up in different books and you have to think about the connection.  You can read any of her books alone and not miss a thing, but if you read them all you will pick up on those little connections.  Her book covers are wonderful, but her writing is perfection!!