I Read Mood-Boosting Books and I Go Hog Wild!

This was a week of finishing up books I've been reading (and listening to) for a long time. I started Poldark: Demelza and Gerald Durrell's Birds, Beasts and Relatives before Nonfiction November, and I set them both aside while I tried to read as many of the nonfiction I requested from the library during the month. I've finally finished both of them this week; both were wonderful reads. I have book three of the Poldark and the Corfu series, but I think I'm going to wait to read these until a little later in 2020. I want to start the year out with mood-boosting reads. 

I also finished four audiobooks. I had The Flatshare in my car since October, so it took me forever to get to the last CD. A lovely little just-for-fun meet-cute. I listened to three more audiobooks at home (audiobooks are a great accompaniment for baking): Liturgy of the Ordinary; Inspired; and Church of the Small Things. All three are contemporary looks at spiritual issues, and, though I have no idea why I ended up listening to these three at the same time, I am glad I did. If these three authors aren't friends, they need to be. 

If you are a fan of children's literature, and if you were once a kid yourself, you must pick up and read Bookworm. It's a memoir told in books of a person who is probably very much like you and me. 

To read the complete review, click the links below.

Birds, Beasts and Relatives: The Corfu Trilogy (Book 2) by Gerald Durrell 

Poldark: Demelza (Book 2) by Winston Graham

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

Bookworm: A Memoir of Childhood Reading by Lucy Mangan

Church of the Small Things: The Million Little Pieces That Make Up a Life by Melanie Shankle

Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans

Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life by Tish Harrison Warren

I'm now at 415 books for the year. I've decided to do something I've never done before. I'm going to kick off 2020 with mood-boosting books. And what better mood-boosting books to start with than some holiday books. Some lovely book-ish friends have recommended some grownup Christmas reads to me and, happily, I was able to get my hands on Lee Smith's The Christmas Letters, Jean Shepherd's A Christmas Story, and Christmas Jars by Jason Wright.

I've been very interested in mood-boosting books for a while now. I made a list of my top ten mood-boosting books last week and I started a list of The Best Mood-Boosting Books on Goodreads. One of our blogging friends, Wendy, has added a number of mood-boosting books to the list at Goodreads, and I'd love it if you would add your favorites there, too.

Sheila at Book Journey announced that she will be doing her annual First Book of the Year posting. It's always so much fun to see the happiness on the faces of everyone and to note the first book each of our book friends is reading for the year. To find out more about First Book of the Year, take a look here.

I've read 208 out of 222 Cybils picture books and board books. I have 14 books to go. Still busily reading and reviewing and talking picture books....

Here are the Best Books of 2019 lists I’ve found so far. 

Best Books of 2019 So Far (The Guardian)

Best Books of 2019 (Chicago Tribune)

Best Books 2019 (Library Journal)

The Best Books of 2019 (Real Simple)

The 10 Best Books of 2019 (The Washington Post)

The 60 Best Books of 2019 to Add to Your Reading List (Good Housekeeping)

The 10 Best Books of 2019 (The New York Times Book Review)

Introducing New York Public Library’s Best Books of 2019 (NY Public Library)

The Best Books of 2019 (Esquire)

NPR’s Favorite Books of 2019 (NPR)

Best Books of 2019 (LA Times)

CPL Best of the Best 2019 (Chicago Public Library)

Best Books of 2019, According to Oprah Magazine (Oprah Magazine)

Times Critics’ Top Books of 2019 (New York Times)

I'm honestly not a reader who is always in search of the brightest and shiniest new coin. Before you get carried away with best books of this year, I urge you to take a look at author Austin Kleon's Read Old Books. Balance. 

 

Hog Wild! Celebration

This week I also:

*Helped my daughter-in-law sell salsa and pickles at a farmer’s market

*Went to my first Hog Wild! party, in which we feasted on feral pigs, for our Texas Master Naturalist group

*Saw A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood at the theater

*Finished all my Christmas shopping

I'd love to hear about your week.

I'm very happy you found your way to the Sunday Salon. I am delighted when you link up here and let us know what you have been doing. I hope you will visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. 

Some of the things we often talk about here:

• What was your week like?
• Read any good books? Tell us about them.
• What other bookish things did you do? 
• What else is going on in your life?

Other places where you may like to link up are below. Click on the picture to visit the site.

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